shipping food in glass jars overseas
June 25, 2010 6:03 AM Subscribe
What is the best way to ship food in glass jars from the U.S. to a foreign country?
I have received a request to ship some baby food overseas. The particular brand comes in glass jars, and I would like tried and tested tips on how to safely ship to minimize breakage. We're talking at least a dozen or more jars at a time. One thing I have considered is to order some from Amazon just to examine how they package such items for shipping.
I have received a request to ship some baby food overseas. The particular brand comes in glass jars, and I would like tried and tested tips on how to safely ship to minimize breakage. We're talking at least a dozen or more jars at a time. One thing I have considered is to order some from Amazon just to examine how they package such items for shipping.
Part of the problem here is that different countries will have different regulations for shipping food (even, presumably, canned or bottled) food into their country.
Not only do you need to know how to ship the food in question you also need to know the particular laws of the country to which you're shipping.
posted by dfriedman at 6:29 AM on June 25, 2010
Not only do you need to know how to ship the food in question you also need to know the particular laws of the country to which you're shipping.
posted by dfriedman at 6:29 AM on June 25, 2010
Response by poster: To clarify, I am aware of the regulations for this particular country, as I often ship items there. But I have never tried sending baby food in glass jars before.
posted by needled at 6:49 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by needled at 6:49 AM on June 25, 2010
Best answer: Double box the jars and carefully wrap each jar in bubble wrap. You don't have to seal the inner box or make it too difficult for customs if they decide to open everything to investigate. Also it the jars contain a liquid make sure you keep them in a plastic bag just in case there is leaking of broken containers.
posted by JJ86 at 7:16 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by JJ86 at 7:16 AM on June 25, 2010
Best answer: From my egg drop experience, you want
a) a good layer of padding around the items, and
b) to allow as little leeway for movement as possible with the items being packed.
I would use that foamy wrapping sheet stuff rather than bubble wrap, because it is a little easier to deal with. Line a box with about 3 or 4 layers of it (taking care to maybe provide a little more space in the vulnerable corners), wrap each bottle individually and pack them into the box as tightly as possible. Stuff more foamy wrapping stuff in every nook and cranny to make sure that they won't move and bang into each other. Put some more layers on top, close up (should be like packing a just slightly over-full suitcase, there shouldn't be any empty space left), go!
posted by that girl at 8:07 AM on June 25, 2010
a) a good layer of padding around the items, and
b) to allow as little leeway for movement as possible with the items being packed.
I would use that foamy wrapping sheet stuff rather than bubble wrap, because it is a little easier to deal with. Line a box with about 3 or 4 layers of it (taking care to maybe provide a little more space in the vulnerable corners), wrap each bottle individually and pack them into the box as tightly as possible. Stuff more foamy wrapping stuff in every nook and cranny to make sure that they won't move and bang into each other. Put some more layers on top, close up (should be like packing a just slightly over-full suitcase, there shouldn't be any empty space left), go!
posted by that girl at 8:07 AM on June 25, 2010
Best answer: I sent some jam across the pond a couple of weeks ago (two half-pint mason jars) and used a combination of bubble wrap, packing peanuts and scrunched-up paper, with the larger bubble stuff to line the outside edges. The important thing was that the thing didn't rattle when I shook it.
posted by holgate at 9:33 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by holgate at 9:33 AM on June 25, 2010
Best answer: Something I've used in the past is an old bath towel that I didn't mind separating with. If you wrap them tightly in it, load it in a box, and then cram every open space with heavy paper or bubble wrap to the point where you have to really push down on the box flaps to tape it shut, it will hold it solid and give enough padding for the shipping. You probably don't want to use peanuts or other loose packing since they can settle and compress in a way that will leave room for damage. Peanuts also allow the packaged object to migrate so even though the object started in the center it might be up against a side where it can absorb shock and break.
posted by msbutah at 10:02 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by msbutah at 10:02 AM on June 25, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
A while back, I ordered some mason jars for canning over the internet; they came in a box jammed with kraft paper.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:14 AM on June 25, 2010