Temperature deviations during transport as a cause for food losses

Publication date: 21/10/2019
Extent: 40 pages

Contributions by: Reiner Jedermann, Institute for Microsensors, Actuators and Systems (IMSAS), Germany; Ulrike Praeger and Martin Geyer, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Germany; and Walter Lang, Institute for Microsensors, Actuators and Systems (IMSAS), Germany

Chapter synopsis: Deviating temperature conditions during distribution processes reduce the quality of food and significantly contribute to global food losses. The effect of careless handling and inadequate processing only become visible much later in the cool chain, making it difficult to quantify the contribution of individual processes. This chapter highlights the importance of transport losses of produce and draws attention to the omnipresence of temperature deviations. The chapter examines methods of shelf-life prediction, as well as the identification, quantification and mitigation of temperature abuse, along with remote monitoring. Finally, the chapter looks ahead to future research trends in this area.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2019.0053.12