Perishable spoilage is among the leading types of cargo loss reported in international trade. Businesses that sell perishable goods are highly likely to deal with this issue. This includes sellers of fresh produce (vegetables and fruits), dairy (milk, yogurt, butter, cream and cheeses), seafood, meat/poultry, flowers and pharmaceuticals.
Here is how these goods can spoil during transit:
Temperature deviations
Perishable goods should be transported in refrigerated containers set at the right temperature, depending on the product.
For instance, frozen goods typically require temperatures at or below -30°C (-22°F), most vaccines and some medicines can be transported at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F), fruits sensitive to cold temperatures can be transported at 12°C to 14°C (54F to 57°F) and so on.
Business owners should ensure refrigerated containers are pre-cooled to the desired temperature. It also helps to use advanced equipment that allows real-time monitoring.
Unfortunately, temperature deviations can happen during transit. Goods can move outside their predefined, safe temperature range because of equipment failure, improper loading, improper pre-cooling and human error.
Transit delays can also increase the risk of temperature fluctuations. This can happen due to power failures in the refrigeration system, inadequate airflow and increased temperatures when containers are delayed in hot environments.
Humidity fluctuations
The amount of water vapor in the air within shipping containers should be maintained at particular levels to prevent spoilage, dehydration and quality degradation. For instance, high relative humidity (RH) of 85% to 95% is needed for leafy vegetables and fruits, whereas pharmaceuticals generally require low RH at or below 50% to 60%.
Humidity fluctuations can occur because of temperature fluctuations, improper ventilation and moisture release from cargo (respiration).
Perishable spoilage can lead to millions of dollars in losses and reputational damage. If a shipping company, packager or any other party made a mistake that led to cargo loss, get more information about the best way forward.