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4 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Transporting Food

September 16, 2020

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Category: general

Transporting food—especially across long distances—requires extra safety precautions to ensure that food stays good and fresh. During the summer months, food is even more susceptible to spoilage if it isn’t kept in a controlled environment. Preventing this is why transporting food is suboptimal conditions, especially in an unrefrigerated van, can impact its quality and taste.

Whether you’re fulfilling food orders or waiting for a supermarket delivery, you probably have concerns about food safety, mainly when it’s being transported. In this article, we’ll be answering some of the most frequently asked questions about it.

What is the Best Temperature for Food Storage?

For food to stay fresh and high-quality, it must be kept at around 4ºC. Meanwhile, frozen food should be stored and transported at about -18ºC. With these low temperatures, transporting food in regular vehicles with air conditioning already puts it at risk for spoilage. 

For optimal conditions, it’s best to have these transported in a refrigerated truck that meets both food safety requirements. This will prevent bacteria growth, which can make customers sick with food poisoning. 

How Long Does It Take for Bacteria to Form on Food?

Bacteria grows fairly quickly on food. In fact, it takes a mere two hours for it to begin forming on some organic materials! If the weather is above 30ºC, bacteria grows even faster, taking about an hour to grow if it’s transported in these conditions. To prevent this from happening, you’ll have to keep it in a refrigerated environment or cool them with ice.

Even if you’re driving a short distance during the summer, it’s imperative to keep food in these conditions. Suppose you unexpectedly run into traffic or another circumstance that keeps you from delivering the food right away. In that case, you’ll risk bacteria growth on the food. This will impact its safety, taste, and quality and your reputation as a seller.

What is the Number of Food Poisoning Cases in Australia?

Food poisoning is a common illness that can prove fatal if left untreated. In fact, there are around 4.1 million food poisoning cases in Australia each year, resulting in almost 32 thousand hospitalisations, 86 deaths and approximately 1 million visits to doctors.

With these numbers, prioritising food safety is of utmost importance. Although many of these cases are attributed to inadequate hand hygiene, improperly refrigerated foods constitute a large number of patients as well. 

Are Businesses Responsible for Food Spoilage and Food Poisoning?

From food handling, processing, and cooking to the doorstep, businesses are responsible for ensuring the quality of food. Most cases of food poisoning and spoilage are due to a business’s negligence in taking the necessary precautions to transport food safely and in optimal conditions.

Failing to transport food safely is incredibly risky for a business. In the worst-case scenario, it can result in a wrongful death lawsuit if it leads to fatal food poisoning in a customer. You’ll be steeped in legal fees to cover potential damages, all of which could bankrupt your business. Even without a lawsuit, the hit to your brand’s reputation could be detrimental. The risks are simply too significant to transport food in an unrefrigerated van, so it’s best to look for refrigerated truck rentals or to look into investing in one.

Conclusion

Food safety is essential when running a business. It must be taken seriously to avoid any lawsuits and troubles, as it can also severely damage your reputation. Fortunately, all of this can be avoided by seeking the service of a refrigerated truck company. Whether you’re a small business or do this as a side hustle, there are plenty of refrigerated truck solutions that ensure your food is properly and safely transported.

Looking for a fridge ute rental? Check us out at Zero Rentals! We have the largest fleet of refrigerated trucks in Australia, which means we’ve got the perfect one that suits your needs. We’re trusted by the country’s biggest brands, so you can trust our trucks to transport your food in the best condition possible. Get your quote today!
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