USDA: Plan Ahead For Shipping Holiday Treats

Whether you're making holiday food items from scratch, or your buying Christmas treats on-line, many of us will either ship or receive food this year.  And whether their cookies or steaks, the USDA's Janelle Goodwin said it's important that you plan ahead.  She said most of the planning revolves around keeping the perishables cold through the whole process.

If you are packing and shipping them yourself to people, mark the package "keep refrigerated."

"So that they know to open it immediately" Goodwin said.  "[And] Always remember even smoked and cured products are perishable."

And have to kept cold.  Goodwin also notes let recipients know that the package is coming.  And if you get a package that says "keep refrigerated".

"Open it immediately and the food should arrive frozen, or partially frozen, or at least refrigerator cold," she said.

And if it isn't, throw it out and notify the person or company that it came from.  For more tips, call the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-M-PHOTLINE, or visit the USDA's Website.

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