Food Safety Information Recalled by Consumers Who Purchased and/or Received Raw Meat, Poultry, or Seafood Products from Online Purveyors

Introduction: More than 550 US companies market fresh or frozen meat, fish, and/or seafood directly to consumers online, enabling consumers to have products delivered using common carriers such as FedEx and UPS.  Due to the perishable nature of these products and their vulnerability to temperature abuse in transit, there is an increased potential for foodborne illness among consumers. Yet, many online food companies do not provide food safety information related to the receiving, handling, storing, or cooking of their products.

Purpose: The study characterizes the food safety information consumers recall having seen on company websites when purchasing fresh or frozen meat, fish or seafood products online, and in the packaging materials in the shipments of these products 

Methods: A nationally representative sample of 1,002 US adults completed a Web-based survey. Within the prior year, all respondents had purchased or received gifts of perishable meat, fish, or seafood products ordered from online vendors that deliver using common carriers.

Results: The majority (68%) reported purchasing a perishable meat or seafood product online to be delivered to themselves or as gifts to others.  Of those, only 34% recalled seeing any food safety information on the company’s website; 24% recalled seeing instructions for storing the product after unpacking it.  Most (90%) received a product delivered by a common carrier.  Of those, 73% recalled seeing food safety information included in the product packaging; nearly two thirds (63%) of whom recalled seeing cooking temperatures for products, while 56% recalled seeing handling information, and 55% recalled seeing information about  how to thaw frozen products. 

Significance:  The findings suggest that while some food safety information may be offered by online vendors of perishable meat, fish, and seafood products, there are still gaps in the information provided that may put consumers at risk for a foodborne illness.