Keeping Food Safe While Raising Cold-Chain Operating Temperature From -18°C to -15°C
The cold chain is the backbone of global food logistics, ensuring perishable items like meat, seafood, dairy, and produce retain their safety and quality from farm to table. Traditionally, frozen food storage is maintained at -18°C, a benchmark for preventing microbial growth and preserving food quality. However, with sustainability goals gaining traction, the industry is exploring the feasibility of raising this temperature to -15°C. While this adjustment offers significant potential for reducing energy consumption and operational costs, it demands a cautious and well-researched approach to ensure food safety is not compromised. Why Consider Raising Cold-Chain Temperatures? A shift from -18°C to -15°C may seem minor, but its impact on energy efficiency is substantial. Maintaining ultra-low temperatures consumes considerable energy, and even a 3°C increase can result in noticeable cost savings…