What must be done to ensure food safety during transportation of meals in a tray?

Using insulated containers is fundamental for ensuring food safety during the transportation of meals in a tray. Insulated containers help maintain appropriate temperatures for both hot and cold foods, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria that can occur when food is held at unsafe temperatures. By keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, insulated containers significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illness, aligning with best practices in food safety management.

While covering food tightly can help protect it from contamination and keep it fresh, it does not directly address temperature control, which is critical during transportation. Similarly, keeping food elevated may have benefits in terms of cleanliness by preventing contact with surfaces, but it does not contribute to the temperature stability that insulated containers provide. Therefore, while covering food and keeping it elevated are good practices, they do not replace the necessity of using insulated containers to ensure safe food handling during transit.