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The Joy of Giving Food Safely

Edited by: Mary Schroeder, M.S., R.D. & Pat Kendall, Ph.D., R.D., Colorado State - Fall 2003

When the holidays roll around, people often enjoy sending home-prepared food gifts to loved ones and friends. Many time-crunched consumers opt for the convenience of mail order food items. Whichever is the case, the same rules apply for safely sending perishable food items through the mail. Whenever possible, send foods that do not require refrigeration, such as hard salami, hard cheese or country ham. When sending perishable foods, transit time and a cold source are key factors. The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) offers the following guidelines for mailing perishable foods.

• Make sure that perishable items, like meat or poultry, are sent cold or frozen and packed with a cold source, such as frozen gel packs. If dry ice is used, warn the recipient by writing "Contains Dry Ice" on the outside of the box.
• Both the item and the outer package should be labeled "Keep Refrigerated" to alert the recipient.
• Items should be packed in a sturdy box, sealed with recommended packing tape and clearly labeled with a permanent marker, making sure the address is complete and correct.
• It is best to specify overnight delivery and notify the recipient of its expected arrival.
• Do not send packages to business addresses or where there will not be adequate refrigerator storage.
• Send packages early in the week, so they do not sit in the post office or mailing facility over the weekend.
• When receiving a perishable food item, open it immediately and check its temperature. The food should arrive frozen or partially frozen with ice crystals still visible. Even if a product is smoked, cured and/or fully cooked, it still is a perishable product and must be kept cold.
• If perishable food arrives warm, notify the company. Do not consume the food. Do not even taste suspect food.

A very useful chart that outlines the length of time perishable foods can safely be stored, based on the condition of the food item upon arrival, can be downloaded from the FSIS website.

Additionally, a consumer flyer with tips for safely mailing and receiving perishable food gifts is available online. One may contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-(800) 535-4555 for questions regarding meat, poultry and egg products. The FDA Outreach and Information Center can be contacted at 1-(888) 723-3366 regarding any foods other than meat, poultry and egg products.

Source:

1. Mail Order Food Safety. Food Safety Bulletin. Revised November 1999. Food Safety and Inspection Service; United States Department of Agriculture.

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