How to Ship Baked Goods Overseas

How can you send baked goods and brownies through the mail?

If you plan on shipping homemade baked goods or cookies internationally, you will need to pack your parcel carefully since most courier services do not offer special solutions for these items. Whether you are an online store shipping cakes to customers or you simply want to send brownies to someone as a gift, get tips on the best way to send baked goods in the mail. We have gathered below all the regulations you need to know before shipping such items.

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Before shipping

How to pack

Shipping regulations

BEFORE SHIPPING

Things to bear in mind when shipping baked goods internationally

Sending fresh baked goods internationally, such as cookies or other homemade sweets, may be tricky if you are not yet familiar with the courier’s best practices and regulations. Here are a few things to consider when sending baked goods and brownies through the mail:

Most postal and courier services prohibit perishable food items that may spoil in transit, which includes all homemade food items. If you choose to ship baked goods overseas, you do so at your own risk.
Avoid shipping homemade baked goods with the Priority Express Service, which has stricter regulations for air freight transport.
Avoid shipping items that need to be refrigerated unless you book a service specialising in this type of transport. Be especially mindful of frostings and other products that could melt.
Organise the collection at the beginning of the week so that the baked goods can be delivered as soon as possible without having to be stored at a courier depot over the weekend.
Timing is everything with such delicate shipments. Therefore, the fastest shipping option is the most practical to avoid spoilage or damage during warmer weather conditions.

Good to know: food is typically classified as non-perishable if it has a shelf life of more than 6 months.

See the regulations of specific courier companies

DHL prohibited items

UPS prohibited items

TNT prohibited items

FedEx prohibited items

Check the general list of prohibited items

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PACKING GUIDE

How to package baked goods for shipping

Since most couriers consider this type of item prohibited, your shipment will not be eligible for insurance. For this reason, when sending brownies, pies, or other fresh baked goods overseas, make sure you pack them properly. Follow these instructions to pack your baked goods for shipping:

Place your baked goods in a sealed plastic food container. Consider freezing them prior to collection.
If you are shipping a cake, consider that it is easier to transport an undecorated/pre-iced cake. Pack decorations such as icing separately if possible. Bear in mind that certain fresh produce would require a temperature-controlled environment, so be mindful of it when organising the shipment.
Wrap the food container with bubble wrap.
Place the container in a cardboard box filled with cushioning materials.
Seal the box. You can also add warning signs such as “Fragile” or “This side up” on your box, however, the courier is not obliged to treat it as such.

How to pack cookies or biscuits for shipping overseas

Many people mail cookies and biscuits to their relatives or friends internationally. To protect your goods for shipping, check these packing tips:

Place the cookies or biscuits in a sealed plastic food container. Consider freezing them before shipping.
Cover the container carefully with bubble wrap and seal it with tape.
Place the container with cookies or biscuits into a cardboard box.
Add cushioning materials such as bubble wrap or packing peanuts.
Close and seal the box and secure the edges.

SHIPPING REGULATIONS

Regulations for shipping baked goods and food internationally

The current international shipping restrictions are different for business and individual shippers. Read below the general regulations for sending baked goods overseas by courier or mail, but bear in mind that you should additionally comply with the local legislation when shipping such products.

Shipping regulations for businesses

Licensed companies working in the consumer products sector can ship all types of baked goods internationally, provided they comply with the destination country’s safety, packaging, labelling, and import regulations. They must also have all the necessary certificates and pack the baked goods properly for shipping with authorised transporters only.

It is crucial to check whether certain products can be legally exported to another country. For instance, EU companies wishing to send baked goods to the UK after Brexit must know that besides general EU requirements, they must fulfil the criteria for exporting such goods and possess the necessary international certificates. Read more about international shipping customs.

Shipping regulations for individuals

Shipping homemade baked goodies between individuals is much trickier because most courier companies consider these items restricted for shipping. The main reason for this is that food items often cause leakage, damage to parcels, and tend to spoil quickly. In addition, the shipper must also comply with all the restrictions imposed by the exporting and importing countries, as some food compounds or additives may be prohibited in specific destinations.

See more packing instructions

Shipping food

Shipping chocolate

Shipping candies & sweets

General packing guidelines

FAQ on how to send baked goods internationally by mail

Can I ship baked goods internationally with every courier company?

No, each courier company has its own rules regarding shipments with restricted and prohibited items. For example, DHL, FedEx, TNT and UPS will not ship parcels that contain baked goods or perishable food within the content.

Before booking any delivery service, we recommend checking the rules of the designated courier for your route. When shipping with Eurosender, please know that these items are not allowed when booking the Express or Priority shipping services. The courier may refuse to collect the parcel if it contains prohibited items such as perishable food. If you need further assistance, you can reach us by chat, phone or email before shipping to discuss your options further.

Can I send fresh brownies or cheesecake in the mail?

Perishable goods are often on the list of prohibited and restricted items for international shipping. Even though it is not recommended to send brownies or cheesecake internationally through the mail, many individuals still take the risk and send these tasty treats as gifts to loved ones along with other items in the same parcel. In general, there will be fewer complications for shipping these items within the same country or within the EU since parcels usually do not undergo customs clearance in such cases.

If you are shipping a cake, you can use cool packs or place the cake in a styrofoam cooler to keep it cool during transport. However, these precautions do not guarantee your shipment will arrive undamaged and without restriction to the destination, and you will not be eligible for insurance or refund.

Should I freeze cookies or other baked goods before shipping?

If the items are homemade, then ideally yes. Freezing cookies before shipping them internationally is an excellent way to protect them and help them stay fresh. Frozen cookies and baked goods are more solid, meaning they are less likely to break in transit.

If you ship any frozen items, make sure to pack them in leak-proof packaging so that they don't have the risk of damaging other parcels once they defrost. Read more about shipping frozen food.

What is the best type of baked goods to send overseas?

The best type of baked goods for shipping overseas are those that don’t tend to melt fast and don’t have perishable decorations such as cream and frosting. It is better to send sturdy baked goods such as cookies, pound cakes, brownies, bread without yeast, muffins, and bars.

Please note that those are the items that have less risk of causing damage during transit, but they are still considered forbidden by most couriers since they are all food items.

How to ship cupcakes in a jar through the mail?

Some people choose to ship cupcakes in jars to ensure additional safety during transit and to pack them more easily. To do this, opt for plastic jars instead of glass ones and freeze the cupcakes first. Then, place the cupcakes in the jars and close the lids tightly, bubble wrap the jars separately, and place them into a shipping box with cushioning materials. Close and seal the box.

Is there any insurance for shipping baked goods internationally?

Even though most Eurosender services include basic insurance for free, parcels that include baked goods, perishable food or other restricted items are not covered. Therefore, if you decide to ship brownies or baked goods internationally, you do so at your own risk, so we advise you to pay even more attention to the packaging stage.

Take these guidelines into consideration when shipping baked goods internationally. Nevertheless, please consider that following them does not guarantee that the courier company will transport your package without restriction. If you decide to send baked goods in the mail or by courier, Eurosender will not be held responsible for any damages caused by the transport of your shipment.

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Please make sure your shipment does not include restricted or prohibited items, including perishable food.