Cold Storage Temperature Management in Food Cold Chain Logistics

Food Cold Chain Logistics

The food cold chian logistics purpose is to keep the proper temperature range along the complete food production, preservation, transportation and distribution process to ensure safe and high quality foods to consumers and reduce foods waste. The application scope of food cold chain logistics includes primary agricultural products (vegetables, fruits}, meat, poultry, eggs, processed food (frozen food, processed poultry, processed meat), aquatic products, prepackaged foods like cooked food, ice cream and dairy products and chocolate, fast food ingredients, and aquatic products, etc.

Cold chain practice shows that it is a critical challenge to manage the optimal product-specific cold storage temperature in cold chain logistics. It is estimated that approximately 12% of food waste occurs during distribution, mainly because of inappropriate refrigeration. The below brief introduction will bring us some points about cold storage temperature management in food cold chain logistics.

Cold Storage Temperature Requirements of Various Foods in Cold Chain Logistics

Below is the cold storage temerature range for various foods.

Deep Frozen Food: - Frozen Meat, Poultry, Aquatic Products, Frozen Vegetables, Concentrated Juice ≤ -18 ℃; - Tuna ≤ -50 ℃; - Ice Cream ≤ -23℃; - Frozen Butter ≤ -20℃; - Fish ≤-29℃; - In-transit Temperature ≤ -45℃
Chilled Food: - Vegetables, Fruits, Pasteurized Milk, Deli Foods, Cakes, Bean Products ≤7℃ and above freezing point; - Apple -1℃~+2℃; - Cabbage & Potato 0℃~+15℃; - Fresh Meat -1.5 ℃; - Fresh Poultry -1.5 ℃; - Meat Products -2 ℃; - Dairy Products 0℃~+2℃; - Fish 0℃~+0.5℃ (in melting ice)

Cold Storage Temperature Control Ranges of Operating Temperature Fluctuation in Food Cold Chain Logistics

Due to the environmental changes in the process of food production, transportaion, warehousing and retail display, the temperature of the refrigerated foods fluctuate. So we need an operating norm to regulate this cold chain temperature fluctation.

Nominal Reference Temperature for Frozen Food Cold Chain Logistics ≤-18℃

1. During transportation, the maximum temperature rise should be limited to -15 ℃, and the tempeature is required to be reduced to -18 ℃ as soon as possible.

2. The cold storage warehouse shall be equipped with closed loading dock platform with the refrigerated tempeature of below +15 ℃.

3. Frozen foods at the temperature of exceeding -12 ℃ shall be rejected.

4. The temperature in the refrigerated truck compartment should be pre-cooled to below -10 ℃ before loading goods.

5. The refrigerated display case temperature should be maintened below -15 ℃ after foods are loaded in, and the short-time temperature rise should not be higher than -12 ℃.

Nominal Reference Temperature for Chilled Food Cold Chain Logistics ≤+4℃ and Above Freezing Point

1. During transportation, the maximum temperature rise should be limited to +7 ℃ (Except some vegetables & fruits).

2. The refrigerated display case temperature should not be higher than +10 ℃ for a lasting time.

Food Processing and Refrigerated Display

The ambient temperature for pre-packaging refrigerated foods is proposed to be below +15 ℃. The ambient temperature and humidity for refrigerated display cases is proposed to be below +24 ℃ and 55%RH

Necessary Cold Chain Equipments and Management Rules

Necessary cold chain equipment and facilities together with advanced technical support and strict and effective management system are required to make every step of the cold chain system operate smoothly and safely to ensure hihg quality chilled foods and frozen foods.

Walk in Cold Room & Refrigerated Warehouse Manufacturer and Supplier — Walk in Cold Room & Refrigerated Warehouse

Refrigerated Showcase Manufacturer and Supplier — Refrigerated Display Cases

Cold Storage Facility: - Walk in cold room and loading deck; Temperature recorder; Loading and unloading vehicles, etc.; - Necessary cold storage cleaning, defrosting and maintenance system; Handover and inspection procedures; Food storage period management regulations, etc.
Refrigerated Transportation Equipment: - All kinds of refrigerated transportation tools such as: Refrigerated trucks; Temperature and humidity recorder; Clean and disinfect equipment, etc.; - Necessary vehicle maintenance system; Loading and unloading regulations and handover procedures as well as vehicle scheduling system.
Food Distribution Equipment: - All kinds of refrigerated display cabinets; Supermarket walk in cold stores, etc.; - Necessary loading regulations, environmental temperature regulation management, etc.