When it comes to food-grade warehouses, you can take no chances in the temperature-controlled setting of the storage area. Right from production to consumption, temperature control plays a vital role in every stage of the food chain.
Most foods have specific temperature requirements to prevent spoilage. Depending on the shelf-life or perishability of food items, they must be processed, stored, transported, or distributed at adequate temperature levels.
Unless you want to account for huge losses!
How do warehouse temperature and humidity control contribute to food safety and quality? Let's explore this article.
- Time and temperature control in food-grade warehouses
One of the main concerns in food storage is preventing bacterial growth. Bacteria often thrive in certain temperature ranges, typically between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C).
To ensure stable shelf-life and safety of food products, warehouses must set up and maintain effective temperatures to prevent bacterial growth.
But it is not that simple.
The kind of food stored and its sensitivity to temperature also matter. The temperature control system in a food-grade warehouse should take into account aspects like -
i) Nature of the food stored, that is, water content and activity, pH value, and potential initial levels and types of microorganisms.
ii) Estimated shelf-life of the food product
iii) Methods used for packaging and processing food items
iv) The kind of food you are storing, whether it's ready-to-eat or requires further cooking/ processing
All of these factors decide the permissible limits for time and temperature variations.
Temperature control in vehicles used for food transportation
Vehicles used for transporting perishable foods to and from storage locations should be appropriately refrigerated when in use.
i) The air temperature of food delivery vehicles should be maintained between 0°C to 5°C for chilled (refrigerated) foods and –18°C for frozen food items.
ii) Devices like probe thermometers are usually installed in delivery vehicles to record the temperature. But take care to monitor their working condition regularly and test for accuracy.
Storage temperature for dry foods
You should always keep dry foods in dry and clean storage areas to prevent food spoilage and swelling of canned goods.
There should be absolutely no sunlight penetration. Ensure that the ceilings, walls, windows, and floor openings of dry food storage facilities are sealed to take care of this, as well as to regulate humidity and maintain consistently cool temperatures.
i) Ideal temperature - between 10°C (50°F)- 21°C (70°F).
ii) Humidity - between 50-55%
Be sure to place food items at least 15 centimeters (6 inches) off the floor. And there should be adequate ventilation. You can keep storage shelves away from the walls to make room for ventilation.
Storage temperature for refrigerated foods
Most fresh foods are stored in refrigerators to extend their shelf-life by delaying deterioration or decomposition.
Some pointers to keep in mind –
i) Monitor the temperature of the refrigerators daily. You can fit thermometers to take daily thermometer readings.
ii) The safest temperature range for refrigerated storage is to keep foods under 4°C (39°F) or even colder.
iii) Ideal refrigerator temperature levels - 0°C to 5°C.
iv) Overloaded refrigerators prevent cool air circulation, so try to avoid double stacking.
v) Never place hot foods directly into the storage refrigerator as it may raise the temperature above acceptable limits and lead to cross-contamination of food kept inside.
Storage temperature for frozen foods
Only foods in good and safe condition should be kept in freezer storage because freezing retards bacterial growth, but it will not necessarily kill them.
Keep in mind the following when storing frozen foods.
i) Before storage, all foods are duly labeled and dated.
ii) All foods placed in freezers are properly sealed/ wrapped to prevent cross-contamination.
iii) All deliveries of frozen food must be placed in storage freezers without delay.
iv) Freezers should be used for storing only the intended types of frozen food.
v) Fit high-temperature audio alarms or temperature variation indicators inside deep freezers to alert the warehouse staff in case of temperature excursions.
vi) Never overload storage freezers; never leave the doors open longer than necessary.
vii) Temperature fluctuations can result in the formation of ice crystals in frozen foods, which can impact their texture and overall quality.
viii) Maintain freezer temperature at or below –18°C.
ix) Maintain the chillers at the appropriate temperature.
x) Ensure that the vehicles transporting frozen food products are equipped with appropriate refrigeration and recording devices to maintain product temperature at –10°F (–18°C) or colder, as required.
Storage temperature for dairy products
The fat in dairy products tends to absorb strong odors from the storage surroundings. To prevent this, they should be kept inside protective coverings in their designated storage area.
The optimum storage temperature for dairy products is 2°C to 4°C (36° to 39°F).
It's also best not to order dairy products too far in advance as they have a shorter shelf-life. Rotate dairy products regularly to make room for fresh stocks.
Temperature control best practices for food-grade warehouses
Some good practices can make a huge difference when it comes to managing food-grade warehouses.
i) Keep high-risk foods at:
5°C or below for cold foods,
60°C or above for hot foods, and -18ºC for frozen foods - during storage, display, and transportation.
ii) Clearly label the expiry date for high-risk hot and cold food products so you know when to discard them.
iii) Ensure that the facility's storage temperature meets the manufacturer's requirements as specified on the product label. For example, refrigerator temperature for infant formula storage should not exceed 5ºC (41ºF).
iv) Have Temperature monitoring devices in locations where the food is most vulnerable to temperature excursions.
v) Use insulated curtain walls to create different, temperature-specific areas within freezers, coolers, or other specified areas to store different types of temperature-sensitive food products safely.
vi) Insulated door blankets can be your savior in the most awkward moments, like the sudden breakdown of a freezer or cooler door. They serve as a temporary replacement to mitigate product loss as you await a freezer replacement or repair.
vii) You can also use blast freezer curtain walls to reduce cold blast cycle times and save on energy. They help flash freeze certain foods to a specific temperature to preserve quality.
Conclusion
Proper temperature control in warehouse centers is no longer a nice-to-have but a must-have. It is not just about preventing spoilage but also complying with food safety regulations and standards. Failure to adhere to these guidelines can lead to legal consequences and put consumers at risk.
Cargoz has partnered with food-grade warehouse facilities designed for optimal temperature-control performance throughout your food supply chain. We offer you the flexibility to move closer to your customers, expand your storage space at any time, or adjust temperature and storage settings as your needs change.
Looking for the most convenient and on-demand warehouse facility that suits your food storage requirements and keeps you closer to your market? We assure to connect you to the right one. Contact us for a free consultation right away.