Be Careful Ordering and Receiving Food Gifts

According to the USDA, Americans will order more than $5.8 billion in food gifts from catalogs and over the Internet this holiday season. While most of this food will reach its destination in safe condition, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) warns that mishandling or mail delays could cause some orders to arrive with an unwanted surprise: a dose of food poisoning.
Here are some tips from the USDA for purchasers or recipients of mail or Internet ordered foods:
Before ordering food gifts:
1. Be sure the company is reputable. The Direct Marketing Association offers sources of reputable catalog and Internet food retailers at their Web site: www.shopthenet.org.
2. Ask the mail order company if it ships perishable meat and poultry cold or frozen and packed with a cold source such as dry ice or freezer gel packs. The order should be packed in a foam box or heavy corrugated cardboard.
When you receive perishable food gifts:
1. Immediately open packages labeled "Keep Refrigerated."
2. Make sure the food is still frozen or cold-to-the-touch with visible ice crystals. If so, refrigerate or freeze the food right away.
3. If the food is not refrigerator cold, don't eat it. Call the company and most likely they will replace the food items for you. But remember, it's the shipper's responsibility to deliver perishable foods on time, but it's the consumer's responsibility to handle it safely as soon as it arrives.
For additional food safety information about meat, poultry, or eggs, call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1 (800) 535-4555; Washington, DC area, (202) 720-3333; TTY: 1 (800) 256-7072. It is staffed by home economists, registered dietitians, and food technologists weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, year round. An extensive selection of food safety recordings can be heard 24 hours a day using a touch-tone phone