Swapping food safely
Food Swap is neighbours sharing food, not a shop. Every offer comes from a real person, so a little care goes a long way. These tips, plus the FAQs below, cover how to swap, how to report something, and how to block someone.
Before you swap
Meet in a public place
Choose a daytime doorstep handover, a porch, or a busy local spot. Take a friend if you're unsure.
Look before you take it
Check the packaging, seals and smell. Skip anything mouldy, leaking or left out of the fridge too long.
Bring a cool bag
For chilled and frozen food, bring a cooler bag and go straight home afterwards.
Keep the cold chain
Refrigerate within two hours and eat leftovers within a couple of days unless you freeze them.
Never send money
Swaps are food for food. Food Swap will never ask for cash, gift cards or bank details in chat.
Trust your instincts
If a member or an offer feels wrong, cancel the swap, block them, and let us know.
Reporting a listing
Open the offer you're worried about and scroll to the bottom to tap Report this listing. Pick a reason, add any details, and it goes to the Food Swap team. Reports are confidential.
Use it for food that looks unsafe or spoiled, misleading listings, or content that doesn't belong on the app.
Blocking a member
Open a member's profile and tap Block member. Their offers disappear from your browsing and their conversations are hidden from your Messages. They aren't told.
Members you've blocked
Log in to see and manage the members you've blocked.
Frequently asked questions
Food swapped through Food Swap is shared between members at your own risk. We don't inspect, store or transport any of it. If you're unsure whether something is safe to eat, throw it out.