Study Says 28 Percent of Delivery Drivers Taste Their Customer's Food

By R.J. Johnson - @rickerthewriter

July 28, 2019

CHINA-FOOD-LIFESTYLE-China-food-lifestyle-restaurants-internet-d

After getting home from a long day at work, many people find they don't have enough energy to cook a meal themselves. Thankfully, a slew of food delivery apps have sprung up in recent years that can get people their favorite take out with a minimum of hassle.

However, while having the convenience of food delivery is nice, many people have wondered whether the delivery driver snuck a taste of the food they're delivering. Did those fries really fall out and into the bag during delivery? Or was the driver reaching in to grab a few for themselves? According to a new survey from US Foods, up to 28 percent of delivery drivers have tasted some of the food they're delivering.

"We're sorry to report that sometimes, impulse gets the best of deliverers, and they violate their sacred duty by taking some of the food!" US Foods wrote in the survey.

According to the survey, the average American has two food delivery apps on their phone and uses them up three times per month.

The survey was conducted among 1,518 American adults, with about 500 of those being drivers who deliver food for apps like Postmates and Doordash.

Of the 500 delivery drivers, 140 admitted to sampling food from a delivery at some point. When drivers were asked if they're ever tempted by the smell of the food they're delivering, 54 percent said "yes."

US Foods asked customers how they'd feel if the delivery driver helped themselves to a few fries from your order, with the average response being 8.4 out of 10, with 1 signifying "no big deal" and 10 signifying it was "absolutely unacceptable."

Up to 85 percent of consumers surveyed said they'd like restaurants to use tamper-evident labels on delivery order.

Photo: Getty Images

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.