Restrictions on mailing or shipping food, including meat with dry
ice
By JOE O'CONNELL, cbbqa past President
Barbecue cooks often need to ship raw and/or cooked meat, spices and
other food. These shipments, whether via the postal service or private
shipping companies, must comply with federal law and rules of shipping
companies. This will explain the rules that barbecue cooks are most
often likely to encounter. This information is current as of the date
of this story and relates only to domestic shipments (rules for
international shipments will vary depending on many other factors).
Federal Express
When cooks want to ship barbecue, including raw or cooked meat, then
Federal Express ("FedEx") is one of their first choices. This is
because the shipment must be handled properly and arrive promptly, so
that it will not spoil.
Rules on shipping meat and other food
FedEx rules provide that food may be shipped via any of its services,
including specifically:
- FedEx SameDay
- FedEx First Overnight
- FedEx Priority Overnight
- FedEx Standard Overnight
- FedEx 2Day
- FedEx Express Freight
However, FedEx recommends that any perishable items be shipped via
FedEx Priority Overnight or FedEx 1Day Freight. See FedEx
rules on shipping foodstuffs.
Disclosure requirements
FedEx requires that all food shipments must be prominently and
legibly marked. See FedEx
rules on shipping foodstuffs.
Dry ice as a Dangerous Goods Shipment
If the shipment contains dry ice, the shipment is considered a
Dangerous Goods Shipment. Dangerous Goods Shipments are closely
regulated by federal law and by FedEx. The most common shipment which
barbecue cooks will encounter is shipments which contain dry ice,
because dry ice is classified as a Dangerous Goods Shipment. See
FedEx
rules on dry ice as dangerous goods, especially the last paragraph
of Paragraph (A) and all of Paragraph (G), which are included below.
Dry ice may be shipped via FedEx
FedEx permits shipments which contain dry ice. See FedEx
rules on dry ice as dangerous goods, Paragraph (A), last paragraph,
which provides:
Except for dry ice, Dangerous Goods other than dry ice are not
acceptable for transportation via FedEx First Overnight.
Id.
Dry ice disclosure requirements
FedEx permits shipments which contain dry ice, but the shipment must
be packaged properly and must be declared and disclosed. See
FedEx
rules on dry ice as dangerous goods, Paragraph (G), which provides:
Dry ice shipments prepared in accordance with IATA regulations do
not require a Shipper's Declaration, and there is no special
handling fee for transporting dry ice at this time. However, the
dry ice box must be checked and the dry ice information must be
entered under the special handling section on the airbill. Where
dry ice is tendered as a refrigerant with Dangerous Goods that
require a declaration, the "Dangerous Goods" block and the dry ice
block on the airbill must be checked, and the dry ice information
must be entered under the special handling section on the airbill.
All dry ice shipments require package marking and labeling. FedEx
is not required to add dry ice to packages in its system. Prior to
shipment, call 1•800•Go•FedEx (800-463-3339)) and press "81" to
connect to the Dangerous Goods Hotline for assistance.
Id.
Recommendation
The best policy for shipping meat or other food via FedEx is to avoid
using dry ice. Instead, if possible, use one of the commonly available,
self-contained cooling blocks.
If the use of dry ice is necessary, then the customer should
telephone FedEx for specific and current rules: the phone number is
1•800•Go•FedEx (800-463-3339)) and press "81" to connect to the
Dangerous Goods Hotline for assistance.
As of September 18, 2001, the FedEx representative said that FedEx
permits the shipment of meats packed with dry ice, as follows. The
shipment must be packaged by the customer. FedEx suggests putting the
meat packed with dry ice in a Styrofoam container and insert it into a
larger cardboard container. The package must be taken to a FedEx center
(i.e. it may not be left at a FedEx pickup location. At the FedEx
center, the presence of the dry ice must be disclosed, the FedEx will
put a label on the box. There is no additional charge at this time.
UPS
An alternative to FedEx is United Parcel Service (UPS). When cooks
want to ship barbecue, including raw or cooked meat, then UPS is a good
choices.
Rules on shipping meat and other food
UPS has no specific rules governing the shipment of food. Like
FedEx, however, UPS recommends that any perishable items be shipped not
via UPS Ground but via UPS Next Day Air or equivalent.
Disclosure requirements
FedEx requires that all food shipments must be prominently and
legibly marked. See FedEx
rules on shipping foodstuffs.
Dry ice as a Hazardous Material Shipment
If the shipment contains dry ice, the shipment is considered a
Hazardous Material Shipment. Hazardous Material Shipments are
closely regulated by federal law and by UPS. The most common shipment
which barbecue cooks will encounter is shipments which contain dry ice,
because dry ice is classified as a Hazardous Material. See UPS
hazardous material spreadsheet at line 624. (Note that this is an
Excel spreadsheet; a PDF version is available at the
UPS website.)
Dry ice may be shipped via UPS
As noted above, UPS classifies the rules regarding dry ice on a
hazardous material spreadsheet at line 624. (Note that this is an
Excel spreadsheet; a PDF version is available at the
UPS website.) However, dry ice may be shipped via UPS, subject to
certain quantity, disclosure and other requirements.
In an email sent on September 19, 2001, UPS said:
UPS does not provide a protective service for the transportation
of perishable commodities or of commodities requiring protection
from heat or cold. Such commodities will be accepted for
transportation solely at the shipper's risk for damage occasioned by
exposure to heat or cold. Please contact our Hazardous Materials
Center at 1-800-554-9964 regarding the shipment of dry ice. If we
can assist you in the future, please feel free to contact us.
UPS permits the use of dry ice in some shipments, but the customer is
advised to telephone the UPS Hazardous Material Support Center at
1-800-554-9964 for current information on the types, restrictions and
disclosure requirements on shipments that contain dry ice.
Recommendation
The best policy for shipping meat or other food via UPS is to avoid
using dry ice. Instead, if possible, use one of the commonly available,
self-contained cooling blocks, like "Blue Ice".
If the use of dry ice is necessary, then the customer should
telephone the UPS Hazardous Material Support Center for specific and
current rules. The phone number is 1-800-554-9964. For general
information, call UPS at 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877).
USPS
An alternative to FedEx and UPS is the United States Postal Service (USPS).
When cooks want to ship barbecue, including raw or cooked meat, then
USPS is often the most economical choice.
Rules on shipping meat and other food
USPS has published a Domestic Mail Manual (DMM),
Number DMM C022, on Perishables. (This circular is in PDF format.)
The circular has no specific restriction on the shipment of meat, except
that the container "must be constructed to protect and securely contain
the contents."
Id.
Disclosure requirements
No specific disclosure rules by USPS were found. However, it is
recommended that the package be labeled as perishable.
Dry ice
Dry ice may be used as a refrigerant. USPS requires:
A package containing dry ice (carbon dioxide solid) must be
packed in a container that allows the release of carbon dioxide
gas. If a fiberboard box is used, enough insulation is necessary to
prevent condensation and wetting of the mailing carton.
Id.
Recommendation
The best policy for shipping meat or other food via USPS is to avoid
using dry ice. Instead, if possible, use one of the commonly available,
self-contained cooling blocks, like "Blue Ice".
If the use of dry ice is necessary, then the customer should
telephone the local post office or check the
USPS website for
current rules.
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