The way food is stored has a lot to do with the consumer's safety. While plenty of products are sealed into seemingly impenetrable packages and cartons, the truth is that the contents are more vulnerable than they may first appear. Food storage disasters can occur anywhere, and they can affect multiple states, countries, and even continents. We'll look more at the details and how they could have been avoided.
Sausage Scare
In 2019, George's Prepared Foods found that their third-party cold storage provider had accidentally shipped out more than 6,000 pounds of sausage patties that may have been contaminated with salmonella. These products were sent to a variety of Walmarts around the Tennessee area and were produced over the course of about three weeks.
Ice Cream Nightmares
In 2017, The Comfy Cow recalled nine different flavors of ice creams that had been shipped to stores in Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee. It was found that their products may contain either E. Coli or have large amounts of coliform bacteria in the product.
Power Outage
In 2011, California cold storage facilities were forced to throw away up to $18 million in food after a serious power outage that occurred after the combination of a heatwave and equipment failure. One of the more cold-storage expensive disasters to date, the incident left many companies flailing to account for the lost revenue.
The Nature of Cold Storage Disasters
Few companies will come out and give the details of what went wrong when it comes to their recalls. Whether it's for publicity’s sake or simply because they aren't sure, it can be frustrating for the public who would prefer to know what happened and how it's being fixed.
However, the most common reasons why cold storage disasters occur are either due to foreign object contamination or for microorganism contamination. Poor handling techniques and improper environmental control (e.g., lighting, temperature, etc.) are usually to blame for these incidents.
Storage problems can do more than just affect short-term revenue though by causing the public's trust to fall in a brand. Because goods may be sold under any number of labels and in any number of stores, the widespread consequences for both vendors and direct consumers can be difficult to quantify.
Avoiding the Problem
Recalls pose countless problems to executives, especially if they're trying to control for liability in terms of a breakout of serious illness. The good news is that these recalls can be eliminated with better quality control in place.
From stronger generators to better insulation, avoiding food disasters is entirely possible when company leaders invest in the right precautions. Even a more rigid training protocol can go a long way to keeping both employees and consumers safe from possible exposure.
Green Span Profiles manufactures panels that will insulate your cold storage products from potential contamination. Our binding process ensures that air and light won't interfere with the safety of your products, so you can be confident in every item you sell. Plus, the materials we use are durable enough to last for many years to come, making this a one-time investment you won't regret. The proof of our efficacy lies in the continued trust of our customers and our customers' customers.
