4 replies to this topic

[MSA]

Hello,

 

Wanted to know the tolerance temperature limit for frozen food. Same should be kept at -18degC or below.

Is any regulations available?

 

Thanking you.

 

Regards,

 

[olenazh]

Hi MSA, welcome to the forum.

As per Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Preventive Controls (https://inspection.c...8/1616008092049)

 

• You store food that requires freezing at −18°C or less

[Tony-C]

Hi MSA,

 

Typically, where there isn’t relevant local legislation I refer to CODEX Guidelines. In this case there is Code of Practice for the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods CAC/RCP 8- 1976

 

4.6 Frozen Storage

Cold stores should be designed and operated so as to maintain a product temperature of -18°C or colder with a minimum of fluctuation (see Section 3.1.3). The temperature of the cold store may be an essential quality provision and/or a CCP to avoid a critical temperature abuse situation that may jeopardize food safety.

 

Section 4.7 Transport and Distribution

The product temperature during transport and distribution may be an essential quality provision and/or a CCP to avoid a critical temperature abuse situation that may jeopardize food safety. The transport of quick frozen foods (e.g. from cold storage warehouse to cold storage warehouse) should be carried out in suitably insulated equipment that ideally maintains a product temperature of -18°C or colder. The product temperature should be at -18°C or colder at the beginning of the transport.

Vehicle compartments or containers should be pre-cooled prior to loading. Care should be taken not to impair the efficiency of temperature control or reduce the refrigeration capacity.

……….

Distribution of quick frozen foods should be carried out in such a way that any rise in product temperature warmer than -18ºC be kept to a minimum within, as appropriate, the limit set by competent authorities and should not in any case be warmer than -12ºC in the warmest package to ensure quality of the products. After delivery, the product temperature should be reduced to -18°C as soon as possible.

Loading into and unloading from vehicles and loading into and unloading from cold stores should be as fast as practicable and the methods used should minimize product temperature rise.

 

These are extracts, see Section 4.6 Frozen Storage and Section 4.7 Transport and Distribution for full details

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

[Charles.C]

Hello,

 

Wanted to know the tolerance temperature limit for frozen food. Same should be kept at -18degC or below.

Is any regulations available?

 

Thanking you.

 

Regards,

Hi MSA,

 

Did you mean after manufacture but before distribution or ??

 

There are a lot of "Local" Interpretations/variations, eg -

 

(UK)

 

Food Delivery Checklist

Checking that each food delivery meets your procedures is vital to your food business. Here is a handy checklist that summarises the key points, you can use this as a reminder for you and your staff:

• Check the temperature – Quick Frozen products should be at least -15 °C, or colder, and other frozen products should be at least -12 °C, or colder.

https://www.highspee...very-checklist/

 

 

but, also UK -

Keep frozen food at or below –18°C — there is a tolerance of –3°C (–15°C) for brief periods during distribution.

https://app.croneri....dstuffs/indepth

So, [UK] when should you reject a frozen food delivery?

If you receive delivery of Quick Frozen food with a recorded temperature above -15°C or normally [??] frozen food with a temperature above -12°C, you are within your legal rights to reject the delivery. The potential for contamination and spoilage increases from this point and there is no point putting your business at risk, as a result.

https://iceotemp.co....od-be-rejected/

 

 

(EC)

Article 5
1. The temperature of quick-frozen foodstuffs must be stable and
maintained, at all points in the product, at -18 °C or lower, with

possibly brief upward fluctuations of no more than 3 °C during

transport.
2. However, tolerances in the temperature of the product in
accordance with good storage and distribution practice shall be

permitted during local distribution and in retail display cabinets

subject to the following conditions:
(a) these tolerances shall not exceed 3 °C;
(b) they may, however reach 6 °C in retail display cabinets, if and to
the extent that the Member States so decide. In that case, the

Member States shall select the temperature in the light of stock or
product rotation in the retail trade. They shall inform the
Commission of the measures taken and of the grounds for those
measures.

89/108/EEC

[bit old, may have changed]

 

 

([US]FDA)
 

 

According to the FDA, freezers should be kept at 0°F (-18°C). Therefore, this is the optimal temperature your food should be stored at. When shipping, frozen food must be kept at 0°F air temperature while the internal product temperature should never exceed 10 0°F [-12.2 degC]. Temperature-controlled vans need to be pre-cooled to 20°F air temperature or lower during loading

https://iceotemp.co....od-be-rejected/

 

[wondercrew]

The general standard for storing frozen food is to keep it at or below -18 degrees Celsius (-0.4 degrees Fahrenheit). This temperature helps to maintain the quality and safety of the frozen food by preventing bacterial growth and maintaining the texture and flavor. Regulations regarding the temperature limit for frozen food may vary by country or region. Food safety regulations often provide guidelines and requirements for proper storage temperatures to ensure the safety of consumers.

Edited by Charles.C, 18 June 2023 - 08:50 PM.
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