How Does the Global Cold Chain Allow Us to Adhere to Food Safety Guidelines?

The global cold chain makes sure that any foods that you want to export from the US to countries around the world remain fresh. It also ensures that US consumers have access to foods farmed abroad. If the global cold chain didn't exist, these foods would only last a fraction of the time. Here are some guidelines from FoodSafety.gov, a government website committed to making sure that people are consuming the safest foods possible:

Food Safety Guidelines

• Hot dogs: An unopened package of hot dogs will last 2 weeks when refrigerated (temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit) but 1-2 months when frozen (temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Luncheon Meat: An unopened package of luncheon meat will last 2 weeks when refrigerated (temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit) but 1-2 months when frozen (temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Cooked Sausage: This will last a week when refrigerated (temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit) but 1-2 months when frozen (temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Hamburger Meat: This lasts only 1-2 days when refrigerated (temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit) but 3-4 months when frozen (temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Steak: Steaks last only 3-5 days when refrigerated (temperature below 40 degrees) but 4-12 months when frozen (temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Chicken: A whole chicken will last only a couple of days when refrigerated (temperature below 40 degrees) but a year when frozen (temperature below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Eggs: One doesn't usually think of eggs as the kind of food that is placed in freezers. But the truth is that if you beat egg whites and yolks together, then freeze them, they will last a year.

FoodSafety.gov also states that the above guidelines help to make sure that these foods will remain good quality, but foods which are frozen below 0° can be held indefinitely. So, the global food chain provides an important service by helping us keep our foods edible for longer, thus preventing food wastage.

Contact us to learn more about the global food chain, food safety, and how it benefits you.