Time temperature indicators are used in food packaging to show if a product has been exposed to unsafe temperatures, which can cause damage and make it unsafe to eat. They help with stock rotation, food inventory tracking, and identifying safe-to-eat food. These indicators allow producers to trace their foods along the supply line and consumers to feel confident in what they are buying. They usually take the form of a small badge that is adhered to the outside of the package and have a clear bar that fills with color when food is exposed to an unsafe temperature. External indicators are also very useful, allowing staff to quickly and accurately assess food safety.
As global food distribution systems began to spread, problems related to the temperature tolerance of some foods began to emerge, with some packaged products being inedible when delivered. Time temperature indicators are used in food packaging to indicate the freshness and safety of a product. They are designed to assist in stock rotation, identification of safe-to-eat food consumers, and food inventory tracking. Temporal temperature indicators are relatively inexpensive and began appearing on some food products in the late 20th century.
Time temperature indicators take into account a crucial factor affecting food safety. The longer food is stored in poor conditions, which could be extreme heat, freezing or both, depending on the product, the more likely it is that damage will occur that could make eating unsafe. Many companies store packaged foods for months at a time, potentially exposing them to extreme temperature conditions. Usually, if the food has been exposed to dangerous temperatures, it becomes apparent after the package is opened. However, this is not always the case and it is also an inefficient way to detect potential damage to food.
Time temperature indicators show stakeholders when a food has been in a potentially dangerous temperature situation. Some foods, for example, shouldn’t be frozen and will use a temperature gauge to show that the food has been improperly handled or stored, causing it to become frozen and potentially inedible. Other foods are sensitive to heat and use temperature indicators to show that the food has been compromised.
Time temperature indicators allow producers to trace their foods along the supply line and consumers to feel confident in what they are buying. These indicators usually take the form of a small badge that is adhered to the outside of the package. Time temperature gauges usually have a clear bar that fills with color when food is exposed to an unsafe temperature. When removed from the bad condition, the bar will still be colored, showing that the food has been exposed and the duration of the exposure. Another type incorporates a rim that slowly darkens as the food is stored in warm conditions.
External indicators are also very useful, allowing staff to quickly and accurately assess food safety. In some cases, minimal exposure to poor temperature conditions may not be harmful and the food is safe to eat, even though it may not taste optimal. In others, it should be discarded. By monitoring food as it moves through the supply chain, companies can identify and address areas of weakness. Consumers at home can be sure they are keeping food in a healthy temperature range with the assistance of time temperature indicators, while organizations such as the military use them to monitor rations.
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