At this time of year our thoughts turn to the holidays and sending special food gifts to family or friends. Naturally, the goal is to deliver warm thoughts and love via the enclosed treats, but care must be taken to ensure that a food-borne illness is not along for the ride.
The safest choices among food gifts would include a variety of nonperishable items, such as dried foods, jerky, condiments, low-moisture breads and cakes (such as fruit cake and biscotti), bar cookies, specialty crackers, trail mix, coffees, teas, and/or assorted nuts. Avoid shipping foods with perishable fillings or foods that are moist, as these are susceptible to molds and will spoil quickly.
If perishable foods are to be sent, extra precautions must be taken to ensure that they remain out of the temperature danger zone (40F to 140 F) during the entire shipping process. Follow the tips listed to safeguard your perishable gift.
- Foods will stay at a safe temperature longest if frozen solid before packing.
- Pack the food gift with a cold source such as a frozen gel pack or dry ice.
- If using dry ice, do not touch it with bare hands (wear gloves when handling), do not let it come in direct contact with food, and warn the recipient of its use by writing "Contains Dry Ice" on the outside of the box.
- Notify the recipient that a package is "in the mail" and ensure that they will be home to receive it.
- Perishable foods should be shipped via overnight delivery.
When packaging foods to be sent, select a heavy, rigid cardboard box for the outer container. Place foods into smaller containers within the outer box. It is important to fill all spaces around the individual containers to prevent them from tumbling and becoming crushed within. Use crumpled wax paper, plastic wrap, Styrofoam pellets, shredded newspaper, or bubble wrap to secure the inner packages. Do not use popped corn or puffed cereal as packing material as it may attract insects. Before sealing the outer box, place a copy of the recipient's name and address inside the package in case the package becomes damaged and the shipping label is lost. Address the box using a permanent marker and seal well with appropriate shipping tape. If a perishable item is included, state this on the outside of the box as "Perishable - Keep Refrigerated."
Today, there are many food catalogs available. If ordering from a food catalog or mail order company, begin by selecting a reputable source. Comparison shop and ask questions about how the food is packaged, shipping, what happens if the recipient is not home or the food quality and safety has been compromised in the process. If unsure about a gift source, checking a web site (maintained by the Direct Marketing Association) that lists reliable mail order food sources may be helpful. The site can be accessed at http://www.shopthenet.org.
If sending packages to persons in the military, the same tips apply, but keep in mind the extreme temperatures if sending a package to the Persian Gulf region. Avoid all perishable foods, as safe food temperatures cannot be maintained during the long shipping time, and military personnel do not usually have access to refrigeration. If homemade cookies or candies (such as pralines or toffee) are sent, individually wrapping them makes them easy to share with friends. Canned specialties such as corned beef, shrimp, dips, and cracker spreads make nice treats. Individual packages of sugar-free drink mixes are also welcome additions to bottles of water.
