Precautions for Mailing Perishable Food Gifts During Holidays
Dec 9, 2024 at 5:56 PM
Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee emphasizes the importance of taking extra precautions when mailing food gifts during the holidays. She highly recommends shipping perishable food overnight to ensure its freshness. For perishable foods, packages should be clearly marked as "Keep Refrigerated" or "Keep Frozen" based on the specific item. It's crucial to let the recipient know that the package is on its way. Here are some additional tips:- Ship in a sturdy box with proper packing to prevent breakage.- Include a cold source like frozen gel packs or dry ice.- Use permanent markers to write the address on the outside of the box.- Avoid sending to business addresses or places without adequate refrigerator storage.- Send packages at the beginning of the week to avoid them sitting in a post office or delivery facility over the weekend.- Whenever possible, send foods that don't require refrigeration.Perishable vs non-perishable foodsMailing perishable foods is more challenging than non-perishable goods, as stated by Blakeslee. She advises against sending foods packaged in glass containers like jelly, as they can break and increase shipping costs. Instead, it's better to leave the shipping of food items to companies that specialize in it. If you receive perishable foods, check the temperature when they arrive. Cold foods should be below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If there are any temperature-related issues, contact the company and do not eat the food. Blakeslee referred to information from the extension service at the University of Minnesota, which highlights some of the best foods to ship, such as dried beef, dehydrated soups and drink mixes, condiments like hot sauce and seasonings packets, canned foods, dried fruits, and hard candies or sturdy homemade sweets. When sending cookies, bars, and homemade candies, consider wrapping each piece individually and packing them in commercially popped corn, foam packing 'peanuts', or bubble wrap. More food safety tips can be found online at K-State's Rapid Response Center for Food Science. Blakeslee publishes a monthly newsletter called "You Asked It!" with timely tips for safe food both at home and outside. Additional information is also available at local extension offices in Kansas.
