There is an ever-increasing demand for New Zealand agricultural exports across the globe. While this is great news for our country, the additional demand also means the need for cold chain logistics increases alongside it. It is important for operators who are adjusting their positioning in the market to make sure that they are confidently prepared for an influx of demand, while not compromising the safety compliance regulations that come along with cold chain storage.
A rise in agricultural traffic is a great sign for these businesses but that does not mean that safety regulations are going to be reduced in any way. Different operators are storing higher numbers of various perishable goods, which all may be privy to unique safety regulations. These compliance regulations are largely related to temperature and humidity, but it is worth reminding operators that there are measuring instruments that can make compliance an intuitive, straight-forward part of their business rather than an ongoing concern.
The standards are still the standard
No matter what the amount of food moving through the cold chain is, it is still susceptible to factors such as temperature and humidity. There is no doubt that perishable foods are sensitive to changes in temperature. This differs depending on which type of food is moving through the cold chain. For example, fruit and vegetables will spoil quickly if they are not stored or transported in atmospheres that are below a certain temperature.
But it goes beyond just spoiling food, there are greater risks to consider. For instance, bacteria are able to thrive on meats and dairy products that are stored in too warm a climate. Factors such as this can result in serious illness, making it imperative that monitoring the entire cold chain needs to be consistent and maintained to stay in line with compliance regulations.
Instruments for monitoring temperature
Just as food comes in different shapes and sizes, the same is true for monitoring devices. They are all designed in a manner to take the most accurate reading regardless of the environmental conditions. These monitoring instruments can be used in various environments, including refrigeration units, storage facilities, production facilities, transportation vehicles, and many more.
Testo produces probe thermometers, infrared thermometers, surface temperature thermometers, as well as a range of others. There are advantages to each type of thermometer, allowing accurate compliance to be adhered to no matter how diverse the environment is.
For example, infrared thermometers are instruments that provide fast, non-contact measurements of the surface as well as the core temperature. They make use of cost-effective technology and some even incorporate smart phone compatibility, making the use simple and customisable for the user.
Instruments for monitoring humidity
Testo has signature moisture meters (also known as thermohygrometers, hygrometers or humidity meters) that are used to measure humidity and moisture. Some are designed to be used to measure general indoor air quality, recording data surrounding humidity and temperature, while others are designed to probe individual items to verify more specific and accurate volumes on moisture on a particular piece of food.
In addition to this, some devices make use of Bluetooth technology, which makes them even more convenient for the operator. There are also humidity measurement tools which incorporate special technologies for specific industry applications or research.
When it comes to humidity, operators are well aware that measurements don't end with the product alone. In fact, one of the biggest reasons for measuring humidity is to detect the possibility of mould. Mould can occur due to incorrect ventilation behaviour and Testo products can even detect areas that are prone to additional condensation, making them higher risk.
Instruments for logging data
It is crucial to maintain ongoing efforts to monitor foods and the environments they are being stored or transported in at all times. Testo offers tools that will continuously log and record this ongoing data. Being compliant means more than just being compliant in the moment. It means demonstrating the ability to have an ongoing plan moving forward, as well as a trajectory of compliant behaviour. As the demand for cold chain logistics continues to grow, having a record of compliant stability is crucial.
There is a diverse range of data-logging instruments. All of Testo’s products are built in accordance with ISO 9001 quality standards. This makes them the most up-to-date and reliable instruments on the market today.
These loggers can also be used in conjunction with Testo temperature and humidity monitoring instruments, but their capabilities do not end there. There are also loggers that will capture pressure, CO2, UV, and a range of other data.
Monitor for success
Compliance is crucial to ensure safety in the protection of your food products, as well as the health and wellbeing of your consumers. But staying compliant does not need to be an uphill battle. Testo New Zealand provides instruments at every level of cold chain logistics and these instruments take the compliance burden off the shoulders of the operator.
If you are ready to make sure you are staying compliant so that your business can grow alongside the industry, reach out to the expert team at Testo New Zealand today to find out how we can help.