How to Ship Perishable Goods Safe and Sound

Have you ever thought about how daunting it is to ship perishable goods on long distances? Any miscalculated decision or a minor error may cost your company a fortune, leading to severe financial losses and customer dissatisfaction. That’s why you must take some necessary precautions before making any shipments for your perishable goods. Here’s a step-by-step guide that helps you walk through quickly and safely. But before that, let’s see what perishable goods are precisely and why shipping them safe and sound matters the most.  

What Are Perishable Goods?

Perishable goods are products that have a limited shelf life and will go bad if not used within a specific timeframe. Typically, perishable goods are food items, but they can also include flowers, medications, and other items that can spoil.

Perishable goods must be stored properly to maintain quality and prevent them from going bad prematurely. Improper storage of perishable goods can cause them to spoil or go bad much sooner than they would otherwise. For example, storing perishable goods in a hot car or in direct sunlight can cause them to spoil quickly. It is essential to read the labels on perishable goods and follow the storage instructions to ensure that the goods remain fresh and do not spoil.

Why Shipping Perishable Goods Matters

When it comes to perishable goods, time is of the essence. That’s why shipping these items is so important – it gets them from point A to point B as quickly as possible, ensuring that they’re fresh and ready to be consumed when they arrive.

Perishable goods are often delicate, and they can go bad quickly if they’re not handled properly. That’s why it’s crucial to have a shipping company that knows how to handle these items and will get them to their destination quickly and safely. Shipping perishable goods can be expensive, but ensuring that the goods arrive in good condition is worth it. It’s also essential to choose a shipping company with experience with perishable goods to ensure that your goods will arrive safely and on time.

How to Ship Perishable Goods in 4 Steps

To ship perishable goods, you need to take into account a few considerations and take some precautions to ensure that your shipments arrive at their destination safe and sound. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you go through the process with the least risks taken:

Look up the shipping rules

Importing perishable goods requires adherence to shipping regulations to ensure the product’s safety. It is also vital to check shipping regulations to avoid importing products that are not allowed into the country. Customs officials can confiscate restricted or prohibited items. This can cause delays in receiving the product and can result in considerable financial losses.

For instance, is it possible for you to import artisanal sausage to Malaysia? Can you ship gourmet ice cream to Iceland? It may cost you a fortune to make assumptions about international customs. As an example, Australia prohibits the importation of all dairy products, eggs, seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables (including items like granola with dried apricots), as well as animal products (including dried, salted, and smoked meat).

The importation of any cake mixes, even one with 10% or more of dry milk or powdered egg, will be refused. Therefore, if you intend to ship perishable goods internationally, your first step should be to research the shipping rules and regulations of each country to which you intend to ship. You may still need to obtain a specific import license to mail perishable items into the country, even if your food products appear to be okay.

Use Appropriate Packaging

While perishable goods can be shipped using various packaging materials, it is vital to use the proper packaging to ensure that the goods arrive in good condition. One of the most critical considerations when shipping perishable goods as temperature-sensitive products is to ensure that the goods are protected from temperature extremes. This can be accomplished by using insulation such as Styrofoam or bubble wrap or by shipping the goods in a temperature-controlled container. It is also essential to use packaging to prevent the goods from leaking or spilling, as this can lead to contamination and spoilage.

For instance, according to the USDA, even goods like smoked or cured jerky should be delivered to recipients at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. So, don’t just assume that your box will be transported at normal temperature. It might spend hours on a warm delivery truck or undergo sorting in a warm building. You’ll need to spend money on foam or strong corrugated cardboard for shipping containers to obtain that level of cold, and then utilize a cold source, such as dry ice or frozen gel packs, to keep the container’s contents chilly.

Dry ice’s key benefit is that it keeps packages dry, unlike gel packs, which often sweat as they thaw. A gel pack might easily dampen or ruin the internal packaging of your perishable product if it is marketed in cardboard or another paper-based packaging, for example. Due to limitations on the volume of dry ice that can be carried by air, dry ice isn’t always the apparent winner. To determine whether the cooling component will be suitable for your cargo, consult with your shipping company or freight forwarder.

Do the Correct Package Labelling

When shipping perishable goods, it is essential to label the package appropriately. The first thing to do is to clearly label the package as “Perishable,” “Food Content,” “Handle with Care,” and “Keep Refrigerated,” or “Keep Frozen.” This will alert the shipper that the contents need to be kept cool.

To prevent anyone from suffering a dry-ice burn, it’s crucial to clearly display this information on the packaging if you’re using dry ice as a cooling agent. Every package should have the shipping label “Contains Dry Ice,” which is widely available.

It is also a good idea to include a note explaining what perishable goods are and how they must be handled. It is also essential to ship the package overnight or express to ensure it arrives quickly. Finally, be sure to include your contact information in case there are any problems with the shipment. This will allow the shipper to reach you if there are any issues.

Notice the Appropriate Timing

When shipping perishable goods, it is vital to notice the appropriate timing. The time of year, temperature, and amount of time the goods will be in transit all play a role in how long the goods will last. Generally, perishable goods should be shipped early in the week and during cooler months. These goods should also be shipped as quickly as possible to minimize the time spent in transit.

Realizing that your box of perishable food is spending the weekend at a shipping warehouse is the most frustrating thing you can experience. Find out which shipping service is appropriate for your online store to avoid making that nasty and expensive error.

Perishable food should usually be shipped overnight to ensure it arrives in good condition. However, this still means skipping Friday delivery for carriers that don’t deliver on Saturdays or charge more for such service. You should be even more assured that you are aware of how this may affect shipments on Thursday or Friday if you ship items with two-day delivery.

We Know How to Ship Your Perishables!

If you’re looking to ship your perishable goods, choosing the best freight forwarder will probably be your toughest challenge. You need to find a shipping company that is specialized in transporting perishables and is equipped with the necessary high-tech equipment like reefer trailers and expert staff. DFreight is by no means your best choice in the UAE. Shipping a wide variety of commodities worldwide is our specialty. Contact us today to ask about your shipping inquiries and get a free quote. DFreight’s professionals will be more than happy to assist you all along the way.