Cake delivery temperature checks for cafes and bakeries
By the Daybook teamPublished 20 October 2026Last checked 20 October 2026
Covers: England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with notes for Scotland
The short answer
Check chilled cakes as they arrive: probe between packs or the product, check dates and packaging, and record the temperature. Chilled food must be 8 °C or below in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so set your acceptance limit at or below that.
Why cake deliveries need checking
Cakes with fresh cream, custard, cheesecake and some fillings need to be kept chilled, just like any other high-risk food. A delivery that sat in a warm van is a problem you take on the moment you sign for it. Checking at the door is the cheapest way to avoid it.
What to check at the door
- Temperature: probe between packs, or a sample, and write it down.
- Dates: is there enough life left on the use-by date?
- Packaging: intact, clean, not crushed or wet.
- Allergen information: has the supplier sent it, and is it up to date?
- Damage: note anything broken, and decide whether to accept it.
When to reject a delivery
Set your own limits in your food safety management system and stick to them. Many cafes reject chilled cakes that arrive warmer than 8 °C, food past or close to its use-by date, and anything with damaged packaging. Note why you rejected it and tell the supplier.
Put it away straight away
Chilled and frozen deliveries go away first, before dry goods. Every minute on the counter uses up time the cake should spend chilled.
Keeping the record
Record the supplier, the product, the temperature, whether you accepted it, and your initials. In Daybook, Cake Delivery is a check on the front-of-house list, and the owner can require a note whenever a delivery arrives damaged.
Free template
Delivery and goods-in log (PDF)
Sources
Rules can change and differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Check with your local authority food safety team if you’re unsure. Daybook helps you keep records. It does not give legal advice or certify training.
Keep this record on your phone
Cake and bakery logs, signed and dated.
Daybook is the food safety diary for UK kitchens. Staff sign each check on their own iPhone; the office reads the week and makes an inspection record for any dates.