Refrigerated and frozen food manufacturers across the world face significant challenges in ensuring their products retain freshness, quality and nutrition throughout the cold chain till they reach the consumer.
A lot can happen to food products as they travel from the processor to the distribution point and then onwards to the retail store. Refrigerated and frozen foods are required to be stored and handled at the right temperature throughout the cold chain. If these products are exposed to a higher temperature at any stage, it can impact product quality and lead to spoilage, resulting in wastage and loss.
Tempix temperature indicator
A new technology is helping food manufacturers, transporters, distributors and retailers ensure refrigerated and frozen food products are handled correctly at the right temperature throughout the cold chain till they reach the consumer. Based on a simple and environment-friendly technology, the new Tempix temperature indicator uses a black bar on the label to indicate whether the product has been kept at the right temperature during its journey from the manufacturer to the consumer.
The barcoded label with the black bar is fixed onto the product during packaging. A full barcode and black bar provide visual confirmation that the product is fresh and has been handled at the right temperature throughout the cold chain. If the product has been exposed to a higher temperature above the recommended limit at any stage, this black bar will disappear from the window, indicating the product was not handled correctly at some point and may not be safe for consumption.
Additionally, the barcode on the label will also be blocked out, ensuring it cannot be read at the checkout point in the store. However, once the product scans correctly at the till, it becomes the responsibility of the consumer to handle the product from that point. The Tempix temperature indicator can also help fix responsibility in the event of product spoilage by revealing at what stage of the product’s journey from the manufacturer to the consumer, it was exposed to a higher temperature.
Distributed by WRH Global, the Tempix temperature indicator is made from an absorbent thermo-paper label and a container/label cap with an activator. The indicator works in the -30°C to +30°C temperature range and is accurate to 0.5°C intervals.
Advantages of the Tempix temperature indicator
The Tempix temperature indicator delivers the assurance of quality and freshness of product at every stage of its journey from the manufacturer to the consumer.
The individual product monitoring facilitated by the Tempix technology allows food manufacturers to guarantee product quality till it reaches the consumer. Producers can also maintain their reputation for freshness and good taste in the market, avoid food safety issues, and minimise loss from unnecessary wastage.
Distributors and transporters can better monitor how refrigerated and frozen foods are stored or transported, allowing them to introduce newer processes for more efficient handling during the cold chain.
The Tempix temperature indicator enables retailers to ensure the products on their shelves are in good condition and safe for the consumer. In the event of refrigeration equipment failure at the store, the indicator helps the retailer remove products that may have been exposed to higher temperatures beyond recommended limits. Retailers can also confirm that they receive products in good condition.
For the consumer, the Tempix temperature indicator acts as a receipt and guarantee that the products in their basket are fresh, healthy, nutritious and safe for consumption.
Find out how the smart cooling technology from Tempix can help you fulfil your responsibilities in the handling of food products throughout the cold chain.