Online Purveyors of Raw Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Products: Delivery Policies and Available Consumer Food Safety Information

Hundreds of companies market perishable meats, poultry, game, and seafood (finfish and shellfish) directly to consumers online, with delivery via carriers such as FedEx registered and UPS registered . While these products are shipped in containers with gel-packs or dry ice, the packages are transported, stored, and delivered by use of the same methods as those used for non-perishable items, potentially exposing them to extreme temperatures. Except when signatures are required for delivery, packages may be left outside a customer's home [signature release), where they may be subjected to temperature abuse. The Web sites of 427 online purveyors of perishable meat, poultry, game and seafood were analyzed regarding the company's delivery policies and the food safety information they provide. Only 20 (5%) companies indicate that they require customer signatures upon delivery. More than half (58%) provide no food safety information on their Web sites, and only 30% provide safe cooking information (9% mention safe cooking temperatures), 24% discuss safe storage, 23% list handling information, and 16% provide information about safe thawing. Moreover, the available food safety information is often difficult to locate and is sometimes inaccurate. The common delivery practice of signature release, potential resulting temperature abuse, and lack of food safety information on purveyors' Web sites may pose health risks to consumers.