|  | Public Health Safety | Food Safety

How to Ship Food in Dry Ice

The safest way to ship perishable items, such as food, is by packing them in dry ice. Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide. It does not melt like frozen water, instead it sublimates---returns to its gaseous state. There is no water accumulation to damage your shipment when you use dry ice. Federal rules that govern all shipments containing dry ice require that you place special hazardous materials labeling on your package.

Things You'll Need

  • Shipping container
  • Dry ice
  • Shipping label
Show More

Instructions

  1. Shipping Container

    • 1

      Purchase a container made specifically for shipping perishable items with dry ice. According to Continental Carbonic Products Inc., dry ice shipping containers have an inner box made of foam, which serves as insulation for your shipment, and an outer container made of heavy pasteboard. Venting prevents the containers from rupturing or exploding as the dry ice goes through the sublimation process and gas builds up. Companies supplying containers for shipping food packed in dry ice, like Frozen On Time, also provide instructions on how to pack your items and all the documents needed for shipping.

    • 2

      Use the Dry Ice Directory to find the location nearest to your home and purchase your dry ice as close to the time you plan to ship your food. Bring an insulated container or ice chest with you to transport the ice to your home. Purchase enough dry ice to keep your food frozen based upon its weight and the amount of time required for it to reach its destination. It takes 24 hours for 5 to 10 pounds of dry ice to return to its gaseous state. On its website, Continental Carbonic Products displays a chart to help you determine the amount of dry ice you need. For example, a shipment weighing 12 pounds expected to reach its destination within 24 hours, requires 14 pounds of dry ice.

    • 3

      Pack your food and dry ice according to the instructions you receive when you purchase the shipping container. Place the class 9 hazardous warning label given to you with your container on the vertical side of the box and mark "Carbon Dioxide Solid, UN1845" or "Dry Ice UN1845" on the label. Enter the weight of the dry ice in kilograms on the label.

    • 4

      Ship your package via UPS, FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service or any carrier of choice accepting packages containing dry ice. Air shipments are generally limited to 5.5 pounds or less; no limit applies to ground shipments.

Food Safety - Related Articles