Food that is shipped improperly might get spoiled, making it unhealthy to eat and costing your food company money. This guide will walk you through the rules and requirements for shipping food, as well as the most typical cold shipment supplies you'll require!
Choose the Right Insulation
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Ice cream, frozen food, raw food, and other foods that need to be kept chilled or frozen work well in sturdy insulated foam containers. These containers come in a variety of thicknesses.
For products that don't require much cooling, you can line a shipment box with insulated pads or thermal bubble wrap. Check out Nice Packs insulated pads for ultimate protection. If you want to keep food from freezing, place it in an insulated container surrounded by gel or dry ice packs.
The outer packaging that is used to ship foods should be durable enough to withstand damage during transit. The outside packing may also act as an insulator, allowing cold air to enter while keeping warm air out. Any damage to the package could result in contamination or a loss of temperature control of the contents.
Make Use of Plastic Liners
Soggy, leaking boxes don't make good shipping containers or provide a pleasant customer experience. Line the inside of your container with a thick plastic liner to avoid a leaking box. On top of the liner, place an absorbent pad or mat.
Enclose your items in a watertight plastic bag in addition to the liner. It's a good idea to double bag frozen food for added protection when transporting it.
Use a Coolant/Refrigerant
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A number of parameters, including the outer packaging material, the presence of insulation, the initial temperature of the food at the time of packing, transit time to the customer, and the temperature encountered during transit, will influence the need for a coolant and the type used.
The best option for keeping your food cold during shipment are gel packs and dry ice packs. Gel packs are often a sheet of little plastic sachets containing a powder that when submerged in water swells to form a gel.
When compared to gel ice packs, dry ice packs are the better option. Dry ice has the obvious advantage of being dry, whereas gel packs become moist when they thaw. Dry ice is also a cooler alternative to gel packs and lasts longer. Take a look at Nice Packs dry ice packs for all of your shipping needs.
Transit Package Labeling
It is critical to have suitable labeling on the outside of the packaging indicating that the contents are perishable. Keep labels like "KEEP REFRIGERATED" on the outside of the packaging at all times. If your products don't need to be refrigerated, you'll most likely just have to label them as "perishable" and/or "fragile."
Mention the Details of the Location
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In order to ensure food safety, accurate consumer names and delivery addresses are required. There should be systems in place to ensure that the name and address are correct. Before shipping, check the delivery address against one or more databases to see if there are any issues. It's also important that the sender's name and return address are clearly visible.
Keep Your Permits and Certifications Up-to-Date
As your business grows, make sure to keep your permits and certificates up to order, and check back to see if any laws or requirements have changed. You'll need all your documents in place to transport food. As a proactive business owner, you'll win your consumers' confidence and respect, and you'll be able to establish a respected food company.
The food industry is a fiercely competitive industry. If your customer is dissatisfied with you, he or she has a variety of other options. So make sure that you follow all the food safety transportation practices.
Choose the Best Shipping Option
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If you're sending perishable food, you'll want a quick shipping option. Consider shipping companies that offer next-day delivery or priority express.
Ascertain that the shipping company uses refrigerated trucks to keep the products cool, sanitary transportation practices(ensure that they adhere to the Sanitary Food Transportation Act), and state of the art transportation equipment transportation operations. To ensure that your frozen products stay longer, you may need to chill them before shipping.
General Guidelines for Shipping Food Safely
When shipping food, there are a few rules to keep in mind. These rules differ depending on the type of food you're shipping.
Perishable Food (Refrigerated)
- The product should be able to withstand a 48-hour journey.
- Maintain the temperature of the food with cooling gels or ice packs.
- Strong packing should be used to ship perishable products.
- To avoid leaking or contaminating other products, products should be properly sealed.
- The product must not be damp.
- The sender's name and address should be prominently displayed.
- The perishable label must be clearly visible on the box.
- The temperature of the objects must be kept below 8°C.
Perishable Food (Frozen)
- To avoid contamination or leaking, food should be firmly packed in plastic bags.
- Maintain the temperature of the food with dry ice or frozen gel packs.
- The sender's name and address should be prominently displayed.
- The perishable label must be clearly visible on the box.
- The dry ice must be prominently labeled on the package.
- Food should be maintained at a temperature of -18°C or lower.
Non-Perishable Food
- To prevent movement, pack in a cardboard box with bubble wrap or packing peanuts.
- Extreme temperatures should be avoided.
- Avoid contact with perishable food. This will create food safety risks.
Summary
Transportation of food can be a hassle. There are numerous factors to consider. After you've mastered the rules and regulations for shipping food, it's smooth sailing from there.
To summarise, when shipping food, you need to have the right packaging, labeling, coolants, and permits. It is also important to ensure that every part of the operation is temperature-controlled, from packaging to storage, transportation, and delivery.
Nice Packs is the place to go for all of your shipping needs! You will always leave our store satisfied thanks to our cutting-edge dry ice packs. Shop with us today.
