topic Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!! in Community Chat

FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

eddyandme — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 19:53:29 GMT

I've been awaiting my order of Heartland Chicken ALL DAY! Assume it got flown up from KY to NH and in reading the tracking info got shipped from Manchester NH at 11:45 last night, arriving in Chelmsford MA at 3am today. From there it was shipped to Shrewsbury (2 towns away) arriving at 3:51, was scanned at 5:41 then was loaded and out for delivery at 6:33 this morning.

Now, not even considering the time from NH to MA, it has been on a hot UPS truck for over nine hours!!!!! It's been unseasonably hot and humid here for the past three days (84 when I just checked the computer, dropping to 83 at 4pm).

Concerned, I called C/S and she told me it would be cold but the dry ice melted upon receipt. And, if spoiled to call and I can dump it and they'll send more out!!!! I'm questioning the safety of this food. Does anyone have any idea if th coldpack should last this long? I'm assuming it's been unrefrigerated since it left the airport last night as I don't know of any air-conditioned, let alone refrigerated UPS trucks.

Don't want to seem paranoid, but, guess I am and would greatly appreciate your input.

Thanx.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

CelticCrafter — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 19:59:13 GMT

If it's been packed in dry ice, it should be good for at least 24 hours.

It takes about 24 hours for 5 pounds to melt or whatever it does.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

eddyandme — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 20:02:47 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
If it's been packed in dry ice, it should be good for at least 24 hours.

It takes about 24 hours for 5 pounds to melt or whatever it does.

@CelticCrafter, thanx, just figured I be stuck with 5lbs or rotten chicken or worse yet not realizing if went bad and eating it!

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

Silver Lining — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 20:16:05 GMT

@eddyandme, it might be okay but I'm like you. I would be somewhat worried about eating chicken that had been defrosted and unrefrigerated for that long.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

eddyandme — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 20:21:07 GMT

@Silver Lining wrote:
@eddyandme, it might be okay but I'm like you. I would be somewhat worried about eating chicken that had been defrosted and unrefrigerated for that long.

@Silver Lining

Thanx! It's still not delivered! I'm wondering if they transferred it to the USPS 'cause UPS usually comes around 2:30 and the mailman any time from 4:30 on! If it's not cold will insist on credit and cancel A/D - won't chance it for me and my furbaby.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

Silver Lining — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 20:36:56 GMT

@eddyandme, you know how carefully chicken must be handled. There are a lot of things that would not bother me to have been frozen and then sat around in hot temperatures. Things like poundcake or cookies or other non-perishable foods. I would be leery about chicken, especially left in the heat. I had a roasted chicken sandwich in a restaurant last night and I momentarily thought about food poisoning.. Just me, I think about things like that.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 20:55:05 GMT

@eddyandme

Was this chicken frozen? A lot will depend on that.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

Mustang Shar — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:06:38 GMT

I ordered meat and I was ok when it got to me BUT someone here had a huge problem and she couldn't get any satisfaction. I have no idea....was maybe 6 months ago. So I'm never going to order frozen foods again

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

sunshine45 — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:16:26 GMT

if it is still frozen then you should have no worries. sometimes i have dry ice left and sometimes none, but as long as it is still frozen, i just put it right into the freezer with no worries.

if it is NOT frozen and has partially thawed then you still have no worries. you can call customer service, let them know what has happened, and they will give you a full refund on your item.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

BirdieGal — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:21:35 GMT

I ordered some of the potstickers this summer and we had been having a really really hot summer. When they arrived the dry ice was gone and the potstickers were completely thawed.

I called CS and explained and she told me to toss them. She then sent out another order and expedited the shipping. They were at my doorstep not quite two days later. This time still frozen.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

viva923 — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:22:23 GMT

call the company who shipped the food to you tell them dry ice was melted upon reciept. They should send you a new shipment. I would not eat food that dry ice has melted, you never know if bacteria has begun to grow.

When I get Omaha steak shipment. it says right on reciept if dry ice has melted, to call and they will replace food shipped.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

sunshine45 — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:29:10 GMT

@viva923 wrote:
call the company who shipped the food to you tell them dry ice was melted upon reciept. They should send you a new shipment. I would not eat food that dry ice has melted, you never know if bacteria has begun to grow.

When I get Omaha steak shipment. it says right on reciept if dry ice has melted, to call and they will replace food shipped.

i have had a number of items received where the dry ice is gone and the items still rock solid frozen. just because the dry ice is not there doesnt mean the food is spoiled.

"The dry ice used in the food products we offer usually lasts between 24 to 36 hours. Since we ship our products in 2 days, it is common for little or no dry ice to remain by the time you receive your package. However, your food will still be cold - ready to be put right in your freezer! "

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

eddyandme — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:34:24 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@eddyandme

Was this chicken frozen? A lot will depend on that.

@It was supposed to be frozen. Assume it was refrigerated 'cause says UPS Blue. Chkd origin: Arrived in Memphis 9/25 @ 5:42 and 9/26 Left @ 1:23; then A in Nashville @ 4:52 and L @ 0:47; A in Louisville @ 1:17 and L @ 5:41; A in Manchester NH @7:40 at which time assume it was loaded onto a truck. I'm ASSUMING (HOPING!) everthing until the NH arrival was refrigerated.

So, I would believe it was on a UPS truck(s) and distribution centers from about 7:40. 9/26 and has of now is a no show! I shut the a/c off and put a fan on and have been closely watching to either mailman or UPS since I put this question out for everyone's advice. It's 83 in my house now! Since the mailman came at 5pm and didn't deliver it, I guess it's somewhere in UPS land!

I'm really doubting the safety of this product at this point!

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

juperier — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:36:31 GMT

I would be wondering the same thing. But try to stop worrying. It isn't going to change anything at this point. Companies ship frozen food every day and know how to pack it so it arrives safely.While I'm hot and grumpy when the termperature reaches the 80's, food is shipped successfully when the termpurature is far higher.You'll likely be pleasantlly surprised at how cold the chicken is when iyou receive it.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

eddyandme — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:37:31 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

Sorry, I mistyped - left Nashville @ 9:47.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

Silver Lining — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 23:26:09 GMT

Please let us know when you've received it and what you think. I think if it shows no signs of thawing and is COLD to the touch, it would be okay. If it is thawing and only COOL to the touch I would not eat it. I would probably be more cautious with chicken than with most other foods that are shipped. Thawing or just cool casseroles or things that will be cooked or reheated to a very high temperature would be safe.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

Toppers3 — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:05:21 GMT

Check outside your door @eddyandme, and see if they just left it without ringing your bell. I would do that and see if it's there. Sometimes the shipping information is not updated yet.

That has happened to us with UPS when they used to deliver food packages.

They would leave them outside without ringing the bell, and I would even be home to answer the door and to accept our packages. It was just that the driver didn't want to bother to ring our bell.

If the meat is still frozen or even partially frozen and the dry ice is melted, you should still be good to go with it.

We would receive food gifts from Omaha steaks that were delivered like this, and they were fine to eat.

The ice would be melted but the food was still frozen.

Some of it was cold that wasn't that close to the ice, but we put it away in the freezer and used it.

If you're in doubt though and don't feel comfortable with eating it, call the vendor or QVC if it came through the Q, and let them help you.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

eddyandme — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:25:11 GMT

@Toppers3, but I've been watching - it wasn't delivered. Plus afterreviewing the tracking info, every destination center it was delivered to it sat around there for apx 5 hrs.

I called C/S and got someone who readily understood my concern and cancelled this order and my A/D due to the distribution process. I also suggested that QVC review these procedures with their vendors because safety and quality control should be concerns. This shipped out on the 25th and it's now missing in action on the 27th? - amazing!

I also requested that QVC or the vendor, whomever deals with UPS to totally cancel delivery to me since it would be most difficult for me to get rid of a box containing 5lbs of spoiled, smelling chicken.

I'm totally bummed!

Thanx for your suggestion though - UPS never rings here! But, if my furbaby is outside, he'll play ball with him and/or leave cookies!

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

juperier — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 02:00:48 GMT

I love following the tracking. But honestly, I would have waited till the package arrived before getting so concerned that I cancelled the order. The only reason I would be beginning to be concerned is that you indicated that the first actual tracking was late in day on the 25th. If that weren't the case, I get "shipping" notification frequently where the package doesn't actualy arrive at the shipper till a day or two later. In some systems shipping notification are sent at the time the shipping info is entered into the system or when the shipping label is printed. If the contents were questionable when the package arrived, I'd simple leave the package containing the chicken sealed and put it in the dumpster where I live. If where I lived didn't have a dumpster and it was too long until garbage pickup day, I might add another layer or two of secure wrapping. But honestly, the plastic it's wrapped in should help contain any odor.

I'd also still take a look outside as @Toppers3 suggested. Even if the package doesn't show "delivered," it's possible the driver missed scanning it or the scanning hasn't updated yet for some reason. And the regular drivers get sick or have a day or two off now and then, which can easily affect delivery time for multiple reasons. No matter how attentively you were staring at the window, there were most likely many times when you were distracted or went to do something that "only took a second" that would have allowed a driver to drop off your package. It wouldn't hurt to even look around a bit. Over the years I've had many UPS drivers more or less "hide" a package to make it less visible. In this case, it could also be an attempt to keep it out of direct sunlight.

Re: FOOD SAFETY QUESTION!!!

Toppers3 — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 05:59:03 GMT

Hi @eddyandme,

Thanks for the update.

I'm really sorry that your package never showed up.

That's a bummer, especially when you were looking forward to trying it.

I'm glad that QVC took care of the situation for you though, and that everything worked out.