When it comes to food safety and compliance, just a single degree in temperature can mean the difference between stable, quality inventory or major losses and safety hazards. Customers place their trust in the food service that proper processes are in place to keep them safe as well as satisfied. In turn, businesses must deliver on that trust by implementing comprehensive and compliant food safety programs that account for all steps in the supply chain.

While routinely monitoring food temperatures has been a standard process since the dawn of the industry, emerging technologies in food safety temperature monitoring systems have removed virtually all manual aspects of this important task, making safety and compliance simple and stress-free.

The Necessity of Food Safety

In the United States, food waste makes up between 30-40% of the total food supply. The value of this food waste is estimated at a staggering $936 billion. Not only is food waste costly, but it means food that could have been used to feed families in need or be repurposed for agricultural uses is instead sent to landfills.

Food spoilage, a major cause of food waste, can occur at any stage of the production and supply chain process. For example, fruits and vegetables, which make up half of the overall food waste, need to be shipped using a cold chain shipping method. Interruptions during the cold chain, such as temperature changes or equipment malfunctions, could lead to the entire shipment being declared unsafe for consumption. At the retail level, spoilage may occur again due to equipment malfunction as well as manual error in processes designed continuously monitor temperature and atmosphere.

On a brighter note, while it may seem unavoidable for food waste to occur at virtually any time during the process or for a variety of different reasons, advanced technology in food safety monitoring is available right now for businesses to implement to drastically reduce or even eliminate the possibility of food waste within their establishments.

Food Safety Temperature Monitoring Systems in Action

Food safety temperature monitoring systems can be utilized at any stage of the food supply chain. As an example, we will revisit the cold chain example from earlier.

Storage, distribution, and delivery of temperature-sensitive goods require temperature precision to keep food safe and remain in compliance with federal regulations. Cold chain monitoring solutions, such as wireless temperature sensors, utilize the Internet of Things (IoT) technology to provide temperature readings in real-time. Simply put, IoT is the connection between the internet and devices that allow seamless transmission of data to and from the device.

Put into practice in our example, temperature data is routinely logged and stored throughout the entire cold chain process to ensure that if an issue is detected, it will be identified and remediated immediately.

The use cases for applying temperature sensors are seemingly endless: kitchens, refrigerators/freezers, produce sections in supermarkets, and warehouses. The list goes on. As you can begin to imagine, the advantages of such devices are also numerous. In addition to being incredibly easy to deploy, these devices enable:

• Real-Time Action. The continuous feed of data allows for immediate correction of issues, preventing large and ongoing losses from occurring.
• Automated Processes. Removing the manual components of the temperature monitoring process saves time and reduces error.
• Competitive Edge. Having only the highest quality inventory keeps customers safe, happy, and returning to your business.

The benefits of implementing these technologies within your current business far outweigh the cost, although, as we will outline next, the affordable cost of these products is yet another benefit.

Devices – What to Look For

When considering the food safety temperature monitoring systems that will help your business succeed and achieve its goals, you want to first identify the areas that are most vulnerable to temperature changes. These areas are largely going to be where food spoilage could most easily occur and where equipment failure could result in additional loss.

Refrigerator or freezer doors left open or unable to properly close are a typical yet costly error that can cause food spoilage. Products such as Choovio’s LDS02 LoRaWAN Door Sensor monitors and detects the door’s open and close status as well as the duration of how long the door has been open, sending an alarm if it exceeds the user’s specified time. Its ultra-low power consumption lasts for years.

The ongoing temperature monitoring that we have been emphasizing in this article can be achieved with Choovio’s Dragino LHT65N LoRaWAN Temperature & Humidity Sensor. As stated in the name, this device also monitors a room’s humidity, which is another critical element in ensuring that the equipment needed to maintain food safety is functioning correctly.

These technologies and many more that can be found on Choovio’s product page leverage LoRaWAN technology, enabling data to be sent and received over long distances. Business owners can monitor the status of their goods and equipment from anywhere, even in the comfort of their own homes.

Being Part of the Solution

While the technology may sound complicated, food safety temperature monitoring systems are as easy to implement as they are affordable. You do not need to be an expert to immediately begin protecting your business from costly accidents while having a positive impact on the overall food supply.

Let these technologies do the work for you, so you can focus on the most important aspect of every food service business – the customer.