Today’s logistics chain makes it possible for once extremely delicate products to be shipped in smaller volumes without needing to invest in the protective expense of an entire cargo container. Thanks to cold chain packaging, even small businesses can take advantage of the rise in popularity of the “food kit” and ship raw ingredients directly to consumers. However, doing so requires an understanding of the products shipped and a willingness to invest in the type of cold chain packaging that will allow for these products to arrive fresh and safely consumable for customers.
Temperature Is Everything
The most important aspect of the food kit phenomenon is it allows customers to select dishes they would like to prepare themselves and then have the appropriate proportions of raw ingredients shipped to their home to make a meal for one or a family of four or even more. The key is preserving freshness, and this is only possible through some form of temperature maintenance.
It is imperative, especially with raw ingredients such as meat, that lower temperatures are maintained. This does not necessarily require that all foods must be frozen. In fact, freezing some foods, while not necessarily dangerous, can impact their flavor. Instead, it is important to know what the optimal temperature is for shipping, and adhere to that.
Keeping It Low
In general, for food, particularly for meat, the recommended storage and shipping temperature is 40℉ or 4℃. This is important because any ingredients like meat that are exposed to higher temperatures than this for two or more hours will create an environment where bacteria and other microbes can reproduce and spread. This does not necessarily mean that the products will look visibly rotten or infected, but despite appearances, it does now introduce a situation where it’s possible for people to contract illness by eating such ingredients, even after being cooked.
This is where cold chain packaging plays a pivotal role. Food items like raw ingredients, especially for short-term shipping of just a few days, do not have to be stored in a refrigerated environment like a “reefer unit.” That will, of course, always be an available option, but from a logistics perspective, it can be a costly one, especially when sending a single order to a consumer. Cold chain packaging, like insulated box liners, is a better solution.
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.
