The nature of food shipment has changed a lot in the past few years. Thanks to evolving market demands and once-in-a-lifetime events like the pandemic, individual consumers ordering raw ingredients to prepare meals at home is now a growing sector of retail. However, for any business interested in maximizing this market, insulated box liners, supplemented with the right accessories, are crucial to success.
Safety Matters
The biggest challenge with shipping raw ingredients in the “food kit” form factor is, of course, food safety. Raw meat, especially, is vulnerable to prolonged exposure to higher temperatures. Too much of this may render the meat unsafe for consumption as bacteria reproduces and infects the meat. This is why it is crucial to keep meat and other ingredients in a chilled state to ensure freshness and safe consumption for customers.
Insulated box liners are a crucial precaution in this process. If the only concern is to protect ingredients from heat, then a single bubble layer of insulation is sufficient and cost-effective for needs. However, if there’s a requirement to protect ingredients from temperature swings of heat and cold, then a dual bubble layer of insulation will be a more prudent option. In both cases, however, this is just one crucial component in ensuring the safety and edibility of ingredients.
Cold Packs Matter, Too
The other important component is the use of some kind of cooling agent. This may be a dry ice pack, a gel pack, or some other type, but it is essential for food shipment, especially where meat is involved. The cooling pack is what will actually provide the lower temperature that the insulated box liners are preserving.
This is especially important in situations where the shipping is short term, such as no more than 72 hours between shipment and delivery, and there is no guarantees that the products will be shipped in a reefer unit, such as a truck trailer with its own refrigeration unit.
The combination of insulated box liner and cooling pack work together to maintain the all-important chilled temperatures required to preserve freshness in food, especially for raw ingredients meant to be cooked by recipients. The cooling pack keeps temperatures low, while the insulated box liner prevents heat from seeping and keeps the chilled air in the box from leaking out.
If you’re shipping temperature-sensitive products and want to know which techniques and products are best applied to your logistics needs and situation, we can help. Contact us today to explain your shipping needs and obtain a quote.
