Goods receipt (receiving deliveries) — Food Safety Glossary

The checks made when a food delivery arrives to confirm it is safe, correct and at the right temperature.

Frequently asked questions

What is checked when receiving a food delivery?

Common checks include the supplier, packaging condition, signs of pests, use-by and best-before dates, and the temperature of chilled and frozen food.

What temperature should cold food be received at?

Cold potentially hazardous food should generally be received at 5 degrees Celsius or below, unless a time-based control such as the two-hour four-hour guidance is being applied.

Can a delivery be rejected?

Yes. Food delivered too warm, with damaged packaging, signs of pests, or past its use-by date can be refused and returned to the supplier.

Why record receiving temperatures?

Recording temperatures shows the cold chain was maintained, supports monitoring under a food safety program, and helps with traceability if a problem arises.

What happens to stock after it is accepted?

Accepted stock should be moved quickly into correct storage to limit time in the danger zone, then rotated using First In, First Out.

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