The importance of temperature control in food transportation

Temperature control is a significant concern when it comes to food transportation.

 The Food Standards Agency, in their "Transporting food safely" guidance, states that if you transport food to the consumer, you must ensure:

• It is transported in packaging or containers that prevent contamination.
• Raw and ready-to-eat foods are kept separately.
• Chilled and frozen foods are delivered in a way that ensures they do not become unsafe or unfit to eat (for example, by using refrigerated vans and cool bags or boxes).

 Food-borne illnesses or food poisoning

The most common issue if food is transported at an incorrect temperature is food-borne illnesses or food poisoning. These are caused by different bacteria, such as:

• Campylobacter - The primary sources of this bacteria are undercooked chicken and other meats and cross-contamination with other foods. It can cause stomach cramps and severe diarrhoea.
• coli 0157 - The primary sources of this bacteria are undercooked beef burgers, minced beef, and contaminated cooked meats. It can cause severe bloody diarrhoea, leading to serious kidney damage.
• Listeria - Sources of Listeria include unpasteurised soft cheeses and meat pâtés. It causes mild flu-like illness in healthy people but can lead to meningitis and septicaemia in the young and the elderly.
• Salmonella - The primary source of salmonella is undercooked meat and poultry, raw or undercooked eggs or untreated milk. Symptoms of salmonella can include diarrhoea, fever, stomach pain and vomiting.
• Staphylococcus aureus - This bacteria is found in humans and transferred to food through poor hygiene practices. Symptoms can include stomach pains and vomiting.

Temperature and humidity during food transportation

The importance of moisture and temperature control during food transportation cannot be overstated. Keeping fresh or frozen produce safe while it is shipped is vital. Bacteria and pathogens can develop when the temperature within a food truck begins to rise, which is why it is so important for food to remain cool and refrigerated.

Different foodstuffs require different humidity and temperatures, such as:

• 0 to 2 degrees Celsius & 95% to 100% humidity - fruit such as oranges and grapes
• 0 to 2 degrees Celsius & 65% to 75% humidity - garlic and onions
• 13 to 15 degrees Celsius & 85% to 90% humidity - fruit such as bananas and mangos

 Tempro roll cage covers & adjustable pallet covers

Here at Strip Curtains Direct, we work with several companies within the food industry and know how important it is for them to maintain temperatures throughout the food chain.

We offer two products to help with that specifically: Tempro roll cage covers and liners, and Tempro adjustable pallet covers.

Tempro roll cage covers and liners comprise four thermal panel curtains which can be attached to roll cages by Velcro or zips, or you can order them as sleeve style. They are excellent at keeping chilled or frozen goods in their right environment for extended periods. Cage covers and cage liners are lightweight, easy to store, and available with optional carry handles.

Tempro adjustable pallet covers are a larger version of the roll cage covers and liners, suitable for temperature protection of palletised goods. They are excellent at keeping chilled or frozen goods in their right environment, enabling mixed-temperature loads to be transported on the same chilled vehicle and providing significant cost savings.

To find out more about our roll cage covers and liners, adjustable pallet covers - or any of our insulated curtains, please call us on 0333 999 7171 or email us at sales@stripcurtainsdirect.co.uk