To say that health and safety inspections are vital to the food we eat is an understatement. In America, the novelist Upton Sinclair’s landmark novel The Jungle drew attention to just how important sanitation and safety standards are in the meat packing and general food packaging industry. In Canada, it’s much the same story. It is of the utmost importance that you do everything in your power to make sure, when shipping packages, that everything is done with the utmost care. This necessitates several different precautions, not the least of which is quality leak detection equipment.
1. Meat Thermometer
One thing you will want to take into consideration when packing food products is the temperature at which they are stored. You never want to be in a situation where you ship food and it arrives, days later, as a rotten overheated mess. One of the reasons this happens is because food which is fine at room temperature can quickly start to spoil when exposed to the heat that so often accompanies transit. That’s why you’re going to want to make sure that your food packaging is monitored, and a meat thermometer can be invaluable in that regard, helping you check the condition of food while in transit.
2. Cool and Vacuum-Sealed Packages
Another precaution to take when storing food is to make sure that it is kept in cool, well-sealed packages. Canada’s health and safety requirements typically require that all food-based packages be sealed so as to prevent bacteria and other contaminants from getting in or leaks from getting out. In addition, it is typically advised that packages be kept at cool temperatures with ice or other cooling packing materials.
3. Packing Requirements
In addition to being kept at a cool temperature and being sealed so as to maintain maximum freshness, there are other packing requirements you will want to observe in order to minimize the risk of leakage. For example, you always want to make sure that your packaging is adequately cushioned internally so as to prevent food from smashing against the sides and subsequently leaking out. In addition, you are going to want to make sure that your package is sturdy enough to withstand transit. You never want to see a leak develop as the result of weak packaging breaking down, allowing the contents inside to be exposed and thus causing them to spoil.
4. Detecting Leaks
All of this brings us back to the question of detecting leaks with quality leak detection equipment. While keeping track of the temperature and condition of food in transit, as well as the quality of the packing in which it is being shipped, you are likewise going to want to be ever vigilant for the prospect of a leak. This way, if you do start to suffer food spoilage, you can address the issue immediately, enabling you to save as much of your shipment as you can. The best leak detectors offer several features, including the aforementioned meat thermometer feature, special vacuum-sealed containers, dry packaging, and tests which can be done to evaluate the condition of the food in different environments.
All of this and more can help you prevent spoilage and ensure the safe transit of your food shipments.
