diff --git a/backend/app/services/orchestrator/steps.py b/backend/app/services/orchestrator/steps.py
index 11d61b7..b936c60 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/orchestrator/steps.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/orchestrator/steps.py
@@ -132,7 +132,9 @@ def step_email(run: "WeeklyRun", db: "Session") -> None:
             vote_url = (
                 f"{settings.APP_BASE_URL}/api/meals/vote/{item.id}?token={token}"
             )
-            recipe_name = item.recipe.name if item.recipe else str(item.recipe_id)
+            recipe_name = html.escape(
+                item.recipe.name if item.recipe else str(item.recipe_id)
+            )
             item_html_parts.append(
                 f'<li>{recipe_name} — <a href="{vote_url}">Vote</a></li>'
             )
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ def step_email(run: "WeeklyRun", db: "Session") -> None:
         if not item_html_parts:
             continue
 
-        html = (
+        email_html = (
             f"<h2>This week's meal suggestions</h2>"
             f"{stale_banner}"
             f"<p>Hi {member.name}, please vote on this week's meals by Fri 17:00 PT:</p>"
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ def step_email(run: "WeeklyRun", db: "Session") -> None:
         backend.send(
             to=member.email,
             subject=f"Meal plan for week of {run.week_start_date}",
-            html=html,
+            html=email_html,
         )
         logger.info("step_email: sent to %s", member.email)
 
@@ -177,7 +179,7 @@ def step_deadline(run: "WeeklyRun", db: "Session") -> None:
         return
 
     family = db.query(FamilyProfile).filter(FamilyProfile.id == run.family_id).first()
-    policy = getattr(family, "pending_approval_policy", "approve") if family else "approve"
+    policy = family.pending_approval_policy if family else "approve"
 
     resolved = 0
     for item in plan.items:
@@ -227,28 +229,28 @@ def step_finalize(run: "WeeklyRun", db: "Session") -> None:
 
     if approved_items:
         rows_html = "".join(
-            f"<tr><td>{item.recipe.name}</td>"
-            f"<td>{ing.get('name', '')}</td>"
-            f"<td>{ing.get('qty', '')} {ing.get('unit', '')}</td></tr>"
+            f"<tr><td>{html.escape(item.recipe.name)}</td>"
+            f"<td>{html.escape(str(ing.get('name', '')))}</td>"
+            f"<td>{html.escape(str(ing.get('qty', '')))} {html.escape(str(ing.get('unit', '')))}</td></tr>"
             for item in approved_items
             if item.recipe
             for ing in (item.recipe.ingredients or [])
         )
-        html = (
+        email_html = (
             f"<h2>Shopping list — week of {run.week_start_date}</h2>"
             f"<p>{len(approved_items)} meal(s) approved.</p>"
             f"<table><thead><tr><th>Recipe</th><th>Ingredient</th><th>Qty</th></tr></thead>"
             f"<tbody>{rows_html}</tbody></table>"
         )
     else:
-        html = f"<p>No meals were approved for week of {run.week_start_date}.</p>"
+        email_html = f"<p>No meals were approved for week of {run.week_start_date}.</p>"
 
     backend = get_email_backend()
     for member in members:
         backend.send(
             to=member.email,
             subject=f"Shopping list — week of {run.week_start_date}",
-            html=html,
+            html=email_html,
         )
         logger.info("step_finalize: shopping list sent to %s", member.email)
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_orchestrator.py b/backend/tests/test_orchestrator.py
index d4a8c59..08fff3f 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_orchestrator.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_orchestrator.py
@@ -316,6 +316,29 @@ def test_step_email_stale_banner(db, weekly_run_generated, meal_plan, pending_it
     assert "prices" in sent[0]["html"].lower() or "stale" in sent[0]["html"].lower()
 
 
+def test_step_email_escapes_recipe_name(
+    db, weekly_run_generated, meal_plan, pending_item, member, monkeypatch
+):
+    pending_item.recipe.name = "<script>alert('xss')</script>"
+    db.flush()
+
+    sent = []
+
+    class FakeBackend:
+        def send(self, **kwargs):
+            sent.append(kwargs)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "app.services.orchestrator.steps.get_email_backend",
+        lambda: FakeBackend(),
+    )
+    from app.services.orchestrator.steps import step_email
+    step_email(weekly_run_generated, db)
+    assert len(sent) == 1
+    assert "<script>" not in sent[0]["html"]
+    assert "&lt;script&gt;" in sent[0]["html"]
+
+
 # ── step_reminder ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────