Dripping food packaging, thawed frozen meat, melted sorbet and cracked eggs are not what customers expect to get from online shopping . They were unfortunately some of the items that landed at the front door of Consumer Council investigators as the watchdog tried out some popular retail platforms. As more people count on grocery delivery amid a prolonged epidemic, the mishaps were probably not just individual cases. Customer satisfaction aside, food safety is also at risk. Of the 25 orders of frozen and perishable goods in the test, 24 were not delivered at the required temperature. There were missing and mixed-up items as well as split shipments and delays. The five orders with Big Big Shop, a shopping portal run by broadcaster TVB and one of the five platforms in the test, were split into 17 shipments, with some products arriving after 26 days. Three shipments were cancelled by the retailer without reason, according to the council. Credit goes to the watchdog for putting the spotlight on an increasingly common aspect of living. Indeed, online shopping had become prevalent even before the onslaught of coronavirus. There were 452 related complaints in the first 11 months of last year. The figures rose to 952 during the same period this year. The study appears to be a reflection of a worsening trend among online shops. Unlike many businesses that have been devastated by waves of outbreaks over the year, online shopping is thriving, apparently as a result of social distancing and working from home. But the boom also comes with challenges. As some supermarkets are still primarily oriented to in-store purchase, a sudden surge in demand for delivery has posed logistical issues. The TVB-run shopping platform admitted that it was overwhelmed by a fivefold surge in orders and apologised for the inconvenience caused. At stake are not just consumer rights and customer satisfaction. According to the government Food Hygiene Code, certain foods with potential health risks should be stored at below 4 degrees Celsius or above 60 degrees Celsius during delivery. Consumers should think twice before ordering frozen food online. Retailers must also enhance their logistics and capacity to make online purchase and delivery safe and satisfactory.