Can I ship food on DHL?
Our full range of services ensures the optimum conditions and proper compliance for perishables such as flowers, fruit, vegetables, cheese, sausages, fresh meat and fish across the supply chain.
There are some obvious things that you cannot send with DHL (such as animals, illegal substances, guns and explosives for instance). But there are also less obvious items that DHL can't transport, including aerosols, perfumes, aftershaves, eau de toilettes and cash.
Non-perishable foods can be sent in the mail; however, perishable foods have tighter restrictions on how they need to be packaged and shipped. This applies to items that require refrigeration such as: Meat. Dairy products.
When it comes to sending food items abroad via courier, the rules are relatively simple: You cannot send any food items that are classed as perishables (things that can go off or that can spoil during transit). This is the most important rule of all, and as long as you stick to this rule, you will be just fine.
The following are strictly prohibited on all routes; fruit & vegetables, dairy products (including chocolate and dried products containing dairy such as protein powder), meat, fish, nuts, seeds and perishable products of any kind.
Gel packs and dry ice are the best options for keeping your food cool in transit. In general, use dry ice for ice cream and other foods you want to keep frozen, and gel packs to keep food between 32 and 60 degrees F.
DHL Restricted Items
Dangerous Goods (Hazardous or combustible materials including asbestos and ammunition) Firearms (Includes parts of paintball guns, pellet guns, and air rifles) Industrial diamonds/carbons (Valued over US$10,000) Jewelry (Valued over US$100, including watches)
Do customs open every package to verify information? No, customs officers will not open up your package or packages without good reason. Every package is put through a scanner machine, or an x-ray machine, to verify that the items you are shipping match your customs forms.
PROHIBITED ITEMS TERMS
Any person sending such items will have their order cancelled without notice or refund.
Sending food to someone on Uber Eats is simple. Pick a restaurant from the app, place your order, and then select their address as a delivery option. Keep in mind that the driver may contact you, not them, to let you know that the food has been delivered.
How do I ship homemade food internationally?
You can't ship homemade foods. But there are other ways to cheer up a loved one overseas. Consider shipping store-bought ingredients and a recipe for your favorite homemade treat. That way they can make it themselves!
At FedEx, we generally recommend that you ship perishables via FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight®, or FedEx 1Day® Freight, and package your products for a transit time of 30 hours.

Our cold chain experts handle all types of perishables and sensitive food products from -30°C to +30°C across our worldwide network.
Perishable items are materials that can deteriorate in the mail, such as live animals, food, and plants. Permissible perishable items are sent at the mailer's own risk. These items must be specially packaged and mailed so that they arrive before they begin to deteriorate.
- Store-bought food items.
- Vacuum-sealed food.
- Food packed in clean paper boxes, metal food tins, and plastic boxes/bags.
- Dehydrated soups.
- Condiments in unbreakable jars.
- Coffee, tea.
- Dried nuts, fruit, and seeds.
- Specialty foods like tuna, sardines, dips, anchovies.
We Accept the following items by International Courier:
Sweets, Snacks, Homemade Eatables.
The average cost for food shipping depends on the distance, timeframe, and what you're shipping. It costs $2.24 per mile to transport food less than 100 miles, but costs $1.46 per mile to transport food less than 1000 miles.
Food gifts that can be safely mailed include dried products such as jerky and fruits, shelf stable canned specialties, and regional condiments such as hot sauces. Homemade cookies, candy, and low-moisture breads and bar cookies are also good candidates for mailing. Perishable foods are not safe to mail.
- Find a carrier that specializes in cold freight. ...
- Always use some kind of insulated container. ...
- Use dry ice. ...
- Look for the best rates. ...
- Buy packaging materials in bulk. ...
- Optimize your packaging for each product. ...
- Ship in bulk whenever possible.
Dangerous goods (UPS Guide for Transporting Hazardous Materials) Firearms and weapons (including inert and replica explosive weapons) Furs. Gold or other precious metals.
Can I ship wine with DHL?
DHL Express adheres to FDA and TTB requirements as well as state and local regulations. We have approved standardized practices in place that ensure shipments containing alcoholic beverages can be transported at the service level our customers request.
Restricted means that special licenses or permits are required from a federal agency before the item is allowed to enter the United States. Examples of restricted items include firearms, certain fruits and vegetables, animal products, animal by products, and some animals.
In some cases, the courier services simply take the prohibited items out of the package and continue with the delivery process. They might also ship these items back to the sender. The courier service confiscates the items. In this case, they will likely destroy the package.
You will not be paying to DHL any further shipping costs. Rather, you will be asked instead to pay customs duties, taxes and other import charges related to customs clearance in your home country, as per local regulations. Why do I need to pay customs duty if I received a shipment as a gift?
With DHL specifically, they are good enough to at least let you know that a duty/tax payment is required. This means that they won't deliver your package until you've paid the import duty/tax and clearance fees. For most people that don't know how, you'll feel like you won't have a choice but to pay.
Most baked goods, cakes, candies and cookies are safe to ship. But cheesecake and other foods that contain custard or cream fillings do not travel as safely due to the potential for foodborne illness.
Open the Mr D Food app and tap the SnackMe Gifts icon at the bottom of the screen. Select “Send Gift” and choose between various food gift types and messages. Select the gift value. Choose a recipient from your phone's contacts.
If you want your food faster you can order a courier with a car but if you want something a little cheaper then you can always order a courier who walks to deliver your food. The price also changes depending on the weight of the delivery and the zone where you are located.
Dense and dry baked goods such as fruitcakes and biscotti. Chocolates, cookies, hard candies and homemade sweets, such as pralines and toffee, are safe to send either cold or at room temperature. Condiments, including hot sauce and seasonings, also are safe for mailing. But avoid sending breakable glass containers.
- Prescription medications, including dental & veterinary.
- Prescription medical devices.
- Medical devices not FDA-approved.
- Prohormones, Human Growth Hormones, stem cell treatments, steroids or synthetic versions.
- The following items that are not labeled in English, or without FDA-approved labeling requirements:
Can I ship coffee with DHL?
Shipping with DHL
With DHL Express we can guarantee a fast and professional delivery service that makes sure you get your coffee fresh. This means that you will have your coffee in just 1-3 days from the shipping date.
Use dry ice for frozen items. Use an insulated foam container with a minimum of 1-1/2"-thick walls. Line the inside of the container with a watertight plastic liner if your item can melt or thaw.
- Animal skin / Fur / Animal organs and parts / Ivory and ivory products Goods with a particularly high value (e.g. artworks, antiques, precious stones, gold and silver)
- Dangerous Goods / Hazardous Goods / Fireworks.
- Fluids - Adhesives / Paint.
- Firearms / Swords / Knives / Weapons.
- Live animals.
If you're shipping non-perishable food items, you can use a reusable plastic container. Your vendor may have its own containers that you can use to ship food. - If you're shipping perishable items, you'll need to use an insulated container. Keep the food separated from the container to prevent contamination.
Adequately cooked food items can withstand extreme weather conditions for a certain period of time and can be shipped conveniently. However, you must ensure that the prepared food item is kept at room temperature for a while after cooking/baking.
Perishable food deteriorates quickly if exposed to extreme temperature or humidity. Dry goods like nuts and hard candies are not perishable, but seafood, dairy, fresh vegetables, and meat are. Perishable items should be shipped overnight, and food must be labeled appropriately if it requires refrigeration or freezing.
Do customs open every package to verify information? No, customs officers will not open up your package or packages without good reason. Every package is put through a scanner machine, or an x-ray machine, to verify that the items you are shipping match your customs forms.
Non-flammable, non-hazardous liquids, including perishables, can be sent via general air freight and DHL Express as long as they are packaged appropriately.
For most industries and products, you can expect to pay between $30 and $150 for shipping frozen food packages. Your final frozen food shipping cost depends on how much you're sending, its destination, package weight, and the shipping service you selected.
Most nonperishable food items are mailable domestically if properly packaged.
How do I send cooked food abroad?
Packing and labelling food
All ingredients must be clearly labelled. Packaging must be completely sealed. Perishable goods may require temperature controlled environments. The contents must adhere to the shipping regulations of the destination country.
Use a USPS Priority APO/FPO/DPO boxes to ship items overseas. When mailing homemade baked goods, make sure each piece is individually wrapped and then packed into an unbreakable container. Place the gifts in a sturdy box and cushion with packing peanuts or foam. Seal it securely with packing tape.
Our cold chain experts handle all types of perishables and sensitive food products from -30°C to +30°C across our worldwide network.