Modern consumers don’t think twice about how high-quality food is delivered to their town or city. However, much technology, effort, and careful planning goes into transporting perishable and non-perishable items to different corners of the country.
For instance, companies must avoid delays, use the correct packaging, and ensure that food is safe to eat once it arrives at a destination. Keep reading to learn how food is safely transported from A to B.
Packaging Methods
The Food Standards Agency has specific packaging requirements for the storage and transportation of food. Companies have a legal obligation to adhere to the regulations to avoid serious repercussions.
For instance, food must be transported in packaging or containers to prevent contamination. Also, it’s imperative to safely transport chilled or frozen goods to avoid safety issues and spoilage, such as storing food in cool boxes or bags.
Of course, it’s crucial companies that introduce the highest quality materials to ensure food safety. Choosing the right plastic containers is a must, as a business must only use options that are certified for food safety. Also, the containers must not be sealed or damaged, and must be free of flaws, such as holes, bubbles, and streaks.
Temperature Control
Perishable foods must be kept fresh and retain their quality during transport. If a company fails to store the items correctly during transit, it could cause an expensive business disruption, consumer complaints, and legal action.
For this reason, a company must deliver goods in a timely manner, use the correct transportation, and carefully control the vehicle’s temperature. Fresh food can quickly spoil if it’s not kept cool at the appropriate temperature. To do so, businesses of all sizes will need to transport chilled or frozen items in refrigerated vans or freight containers.
Also, a driver must routinely monitor the temperature to prevent food spoilage, and installed sensors can alert a driver to a temperature issue during transit. Routine monitoring will provide businesses with confidence that perishable goods will arrive at a destination in a safe condition.
Food Handling Processes
All consumable products must remain in good condition during transit and be stored in a clean, safe environment. A company must reduce the likelihood of contamination, such as by shipping perishable foods separately to non-perishable goods. Plus, food and non-consumable items should be transported in different vans.
What’s more, vehicles and packaging must be cleaned regularly to avoid contamination. For example, any surface that has come into contact with food must be thoroughly cleaned between loads.
Protect Allergen-Free Items
At present, all food companies have a legal duty to notify consumers of consumable items containing 14 allergens, such as peanuts, fish, eggs, milk, cereals containing gluten, celery, and tree nuts.
When shipping allergen-free items to a customer, a business must carefully seal and clearly label the food to confirm what’s in the container. Also, companies must store the item away from other perishable or non-perishable items that contain one or more allergens. By doing so, it will protect consumers from a serious or fatal allergic reaction and prevent legal action against the food company.
