Is there food safety management in dark kitchens?

• Grant number: 23/04527-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha
• Grantee: Mariana Muller Alves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The increase in meals eaten away from home and the significant increase in delivery service applications have given rise to a new type of restaurant called dark kitchens, which are establishments that do not offer local service to the public, but only delivery services or take-out. In order to both promote food safety to protect consumers and establish new entrepreneurs in this innovative form of business, this study aims to evaluate food safety management in dark kitchens in the cities of Campinas - SP and Limeira - SP. To this end, an exploratory study is first conducted to identify the dark kitchens. in four steps to learn about the dark kitchens and the perceptions about this business model. For this purpose, a data mining method was developed to study the website of the Ifood platform. The content of interest is accessed through the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) representation standard using a Python script. Using Google Maps and the available information, 2000 establishments are evaluated and classified as dark kitchens or not. Finally, 40 dark kitchens will also be visited where a participant evaluation will be conducted to understand good food handling practices and also the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs in these establishments. Field diaries will be prepared and analyzed using thematic content analysis. In addition, the CVS-5 legislation checklist will be applied. This study is expected to learn about the dark kitchens and make an important diagnosis for business strategies, health surveillance and information technology.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DA CUNHA, DIOGO THIMOTEO; STEDEFELDT, ELKE; HAKIM, MARIANA PITON; ALVES, MARIANA MULLER; MILANEZI, BEATRIZ TERUI; ZANIN, LAIS MARIANO; WISNIEWSKA, MALGORZATA Z.; SOON-SINCLAIR, JAN MEI. Food safety in the shadows: Understanding dark kitchens through the lens of necessity entrepreneurship and activity theory. Food Research International, v. 221, p. 13-pg., 2025-12-01. (23/04527-5, 22/10468-9)

DA CUNHA, DIOGO THIMOTEO; HAKIM, MARIANA PITON; ALVES, MARIANA MULLER; VICENTINI, MARIANA SCUDELLER; WISNIEWSKA, MALGORZATA ZDZISLAWA. Dark kitchens: Origin, definition, and perspectives of an emerging food sector. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GASTRONOMY AND FOOD SCIENCE, v. 35, p. 9-pg., 2024-02-15. (23/04527-5, 22/10468-9)