Every food firm that distributes items to clients must thoroughly understand how to handle perishable foods. Shipping frozen meats by overnight or 2nd Day service with the US Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, or any private courier is safe. Here's a complete guide on how to ship meat and perishables.
Steps When Shipping Meat and Perishables
Regular ice cannot be used to transport meats. A Styrofoam cooler is required to keep meat frozen during transport. A coolant is necessary to keep the contents of the cargo cool. Moreover, "Perishable" and "Keep Frozen" must be marked on the box. Get in touch with the United States Postal Service or the shipping firm for specific instructions on how to pack perishable packages. These steps are essential to learning how to ship meat and perishables.
1. Get Some Gel Coolants and a Sealed Container Ready
If feasible, precool the container and freeze the objects before packing them. If your item melts or thaws, line the container's interior with a waterproof plastic liner. Lining the container with absorbent materials is necessary if you're shipping a liquid or anything that can leak fluid during transport. Here are a few steps you need to follow.
- The coolants should be frozen as instructed by the manufacturer. Precooling the container is recommended.
- Get a plastic liner and use it to line the container's interior.
- Cover the liner with absorbent material to collect drips and spills.
- Get a cooler and any perishables you intend to bring.
2. Put Your Cold Perishable Goods in a Neat and Orderly Stack Inside the Insulated Bag
- Put the item inside the container. Watertight plastic bags should be used to double-bag any liquid or perishable item you're transporting.
- Spread the coolants around the object and set one on top.
- Packing peanuts and crumpled paper can fill up any gaps left inside the container.
- Tightly screw the top of the inner bag to seal it. You can rubber band it shut after folding it in half on itself.
- Close the container's lid.
- Put your frozen perishables in the insulated container in a safe, organized manner.
3. Corrugated Packaging Is Ideal for the Insulated Container
- Packing tape should be applied in at least three parallel strips, each at least 2 inches in width, to the top and bottom of the box, as well as to any seams and flaps using the H taping technique.
- Clearly label your shipment as perishable - A shipping label should be affixed to the top of the package.
- Don't forget to place the insulated container inside a box.
Challenges of Shipping Meat and Perishables
Perishables include any food that loses its quality or safety if external factors like humidity or high temperatures are not kept within certain ranges. Under standard shipping circumstances, products like this may become a health threat if they sit around longer than seven days. Below are some challenges when shipping meat and perishables.
- Extreme temperatures are a key issue, and what happens to a shipment of perishable goods is determined by the mode of transit and the required temperature to keep the goods usable.
- More stringent rules have been implemented in recent years addressing the transportation, processing, and storage of perishable foods.
- Shipping perishable commodities require considerable planning due to the growing frequency of delays in global commerce.
- If perishable goods are not adequately packaged to prevent cross-contamination, the transportation workers and the end consumers might become sick, which could be deadly.