A "
safe delivery"SM
system for delivering perishable groceries (120 / 120'), including an inexpensive, corrugated
cardboard box (100); a source of cold (or heat as needed) maintaining the temperature inside the box within a desired temperature range for hours, using an all encompassing pouch of packet material (110 / 10), used individually (FIGS. 2 & 3) or collectively (FIGS. 5 & 6), with each packet (17) containing a super-absorbent
polymer (14, FIG. 12) which is hydrated (14', FIG. 12A) and then either frozen (e.g., in a freezer) or heated (e.g., in a
microwave), without producing
moisture as the
polymer returns to its
natural state; a protective cover (130) protecting the box and its contents from heat
radiation (e.g.,
sunlight). Other components (e.g.,
bubble wrap 140, sealing tape 133) prevent heat attacking
convection and / or conduction, with the cover having multiple plies with an outer metallized surface (131); a time /
temperature monitoring alert (134) indicating when either a maximum predetermine temperature or a maximum allowed, elapsed time from packing to opening has been exceeded. If so, the customer knows that the perishable items are not warranted to be safe, and the customer is responsible for contacting the purveyor for a return of the goods. A computerized methodology (FIG. 1) insures that the purveyor knows at least approximately when the customer has opened the packed groceries, etc., using a predictive
calculator and an automated
tracking system, in which the customer is obligated to transmit a unique code, preferably through an automated telephonic or Internet
system, when the
package is opened.