WSU Thurston County

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Lacey WA  98503

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Thurston County Extension

Food Safety: Holiday Foods

The Olympian, December 9, 1998

It’s lots of fun to get a package through the mail. During this season, many of the packages contain gifts of food – either homemade or from mail order businesses.

Whether it’s baked goods, fruit, candy, shelf-stable canned items, or perishable items like cheese, meats or sausages, it’s always a great idea to know how to tell if its’ safe to eat and what to do with the food once you open the package.

So if you’re giving or receiving, here are a few food safety tips to keep in mind for these special gifts.

QUESTION: Do you have suggestions of questions we might ask when we’re ordering mail order gifts to send to our out-of-state friends?

ANSWER: There are several important questions you can ask to assure quality and safety of the foods you’re choosing to send to your friends.

Ask the company how the food will be mailed. If it’s perishable, it should be delivered as quickly as possible. Ideally, this would be overnight.

Also make sure that the outer package of the perishable food will be marked "KEEP REFRIGERATED".

It’s also a good idea to ask if the food items will come with storage and preparation instructions.

Finally, let your friends know that you’re sending a gift in the mail, so that the food items are handled appropriately. If you’re mailing to a business address, make certain the package will be delivered during business hours.

QUESTION: Are there some things we should do when we receive gifts of food in the mail?

ANSWER: When you receive a food that is labeled "Keep Refrigerated", open it and check the temperature immediately. It should be at least refrigerator cold to the touch and ideally still partially frozen with visible ice crystals.

If the food items are warm, you should notify the company. Do not consume the food. It is the shipping company’s responsibility to deliver the food on time and your responsibility to have someone at home to receive the product.

Remember to refrigerate or freeze the food items immediately after opening.

QUESTION: Is it safe to mail perishable food?

ANSWER: Certainly, if you follow a few simple guidelines.

Food items that are frozen first will stay in a safe temperature range for a longer period of time. After freezing, the food should be packed with a frozen gel pack or purchased dry ice. The frozen food and cold source can then be packed in a sturdy box made of heavy foam or corrugated cardboard.

Fill up any air space in the box with crushed paper or foam "popcorn". Label your package "PERISHABLE – KEEP REFRIGERATED", arrange a delivery date with the recipient, and ship the package overnight.

B. Susie Craig

Area Faculty

WSU Cooperative Extension Thurston County

WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.  Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension Office.   Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the county of Thurston.

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