When shipping perishable items, it’s imperative that certain precautions be taken and Not will improperly be shipped perishables will draw the ire of their intended recipients, they can also present a number of safety hazards. Whether you’re shipping perishable items to a friend or family member or sending them for business purposes, it behooves responsible senders to take safety seriously. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. By familiarizing yourself with a few simple tips, you can ensure that your next shipment of perishables arrives at its destination unscathed.
Inform the Shipping Company
When sending perishable items, it’s recommended that you bring this to the attention of your preferred shipping company. Many of these companies offer special shipping options for perishable items and tend to be more delicate with packages containing perishables. In some instances, taking advantage of these amenities will involve spending a little more, but this is sometimes necessary to ensure that a shipment reaches its destination in peak condition.
Control the Temperature
In order to stay fresh while in transit, most perishables must be shipped in temperature-controlled packaging. This often entails the use of disposable cooling packs and/or small coolers. If you’re unclear on how to put together a temperature-controlled package, your preferred shipping company should be able to provide you with the answers you seek. To confirm that the shipment maintains a favorable temperature throughout its journey, consider making use of temperature indicators and loggers. These handy devices are particularly wise investments for businesses that regularly ship perishable items.
Insulate the Packaging
To ensure that your perishables are able to maintain a consistent temperature while en route to their destination, you’ll need to insulate the packaging. This will help prevent cool air from escaping and warm air from finding its way inside. Luckily, when it comes to package insulation, you have an abundance of options at your disposal. For starters, you can purchase insulated boxes from virtually any business that specializes in shipping supplies. Conversely, if you’re unable to find these boxes, you can equip regular boxes with insulated pouches.
Be Mindful when Labeling
Before shipping perishables, you’ll need to create an appropriate label – or have your preferred shipping company create one for you. The right label will contain special stamps or stickers that read “Perishable” and “Keep Refrigerated.” This will help ensure that the package isn’t left in areas with disagreeable temperatures for long periods. Furthermore, if the contents need to be refrigerated immediately upon being opened, take care to make a note of this on the packaging and/or shipping label.
Shipping perishable items are not something that should be approached lightly. In the absence of the proper precautions, most perishable items will be rendered useless by the time they reach their intended destination. Of course, this isn’t to say that shipping perishable items need to be an arduous undertaking. A little bit of knowledge and follow-through can do you a world of good when it comes to ensuring the safety and freshness of any perishables you ship.
