Mail Order Food

Everyone loves getting packages in the mail. Sometimes they are gifts of food....either homemade or from mail order catalogs. When it is baked goods or shelf-stable canned items, the lucky recipient usually knows how to tell about its safety and how to handle it.

But, what about smoked turkeys, cheese and smoked sausage gift packs? What about other types of perishable food items? Whether you are giving or receiving, here are some good safety guidelines you need to keep in mind.

Check With the Company
Before placing the order, ask the company how the gift will be packaged. It should be packed in foam or heavy corrugated cardboard. If it is a perishable item like meat or poultry, it should be cold or frozen. It should also be packaged with a cold source such as dry ice or an ice pack.

Speedy Delivery
Ask the company how the food will be mailed. If it is a perishable item, it should be delivered as quickly as possible — ideally, overnight! Make sure perishable items and the outer package are labeled "Keep Refrigerated" to alert the recipient.

Storage and Preparation Instructions
Will the food item come with storage and preparation instructions? Some mail order food gift items are of an unusual nature. Some consumers may not know how to handle or prepare them. How long can the item be safely stored in the refrigerator after opening? Can it be frozen?

Arrange a Delivery Date
Tell the recipient if the company has promised a specific delivery date. Alert the recipient that "the gift is in the mail" so that they or a neighbor can be home to receive it. Otherwise it may sit unsafely on the front porch or at the post office for hours or even days. Don't have perishable items delivered to an office unless you know it will arrive on a work day and there is refrigerator space available for keeping it cold. It is not the mail order company's fault if your package sits in the mail room for days.

Check the Temperature
When you receive a food item marked "Keep Refrigerated" open it immediately and check its temperature. Optimally, the food should arrive frozen or partially frozen with ice crystals still visible, or at least, refrigerator cold to the touch.

If perishable food arrives warm, notify the company if you think you deserve a refund. Do not consume the food if it is questionable. But, remember, it is the shipper's responsibility to deliver perishable foods on time and in good condition. It is the customer's responsibility to have someone at home to receive the package.

Keep It Cold
Refrigerate or freeze perishable items immediately. Even if a product is partially defrosted it is safe to re-freeze it, although there may be a slight loss of quality. Happy Holidays!

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture's Meat & Poultry Hotline. For more information on safe handling of meat and poultry for the holidays call the hotline at 1-800-535-4555 or visit the website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/consumerpubs.htm

Winter 1998
Time to Think Christmas Trees | Caring for Poinsettias & Christmas Trees | Constructing a Holiday Wreath | Help Minimize Salt Injury to Shade Trees | '99 All-America Selection Vegetable Winners | Bug Bites | Cybergarden Sites | Lawn Care Calendar | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Locally Grown—Pumpkins & Winter Squash | Food for Thought | Food Handling | Food Safety | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

Index | Feedback