Refrigerated Transport

Transporting Meat and frozen products

 

 

 

Transporting fresh and frozen food, particularly meat, involves two vital aspects – absolute hygiene and total reliability.

And it is not just good practice – it’s a legislative requirement.

The transport of meat is regulated by law.

The regulations first address the hygiene aspect, stating that the vehicle compartment used for transporting meat must be “clean and has been cleaned to such an extent that chemical, physical or microbiological contamination of the food is prevented.”

It further requires that if the food is not packed or wrapped in liquid proof and dust proof sealed containers, the carrying compartment of the vehicle must be dustproof and “have an interior surface made of an easy-to-clean and smooth, rust free, non-toxic and non-absorbent material without open joints or seams.

Non-prepacked food may also not come into contact with the floor of the vehicle or the floor covering, which means the box must be equipped with a way of hanging carcasses.

The regulations also detail the reliability issue, saying that during transport, frozen products must be kept at a core temperature not exceeding -12°C and chilled product may not exceed a core temperature of 7°C.

Considering the above legislative requirements, the shocking state of our road infrastructure, the outrageous congestion on our roads, and the increasing focus of consumers on the health safety of their food, it is clear that not just any old vehicle or carrying compartment will do for fresh or frozen meat deliveries.

The assistance of experts in the industry is almost non-negotiable to ensure compliance with legislative requirements and consumer safety, particularly given the challenging circumstances in the country, with the hot African climate and inevitable delays caused by the overcrowding on our roads.

Firstly, the body must be easy to clean – both in terms of the material used for the interior construction and the construction of the interior itself, with no joints, nooks or crannys where dirt and contaminants can gather.

Secondly, it is vital that the truck or vehicle itself is exceptionally reliable, while the refrigerated compartments should also offer outstanding reliability.

It is crucial that butchers and those involved with meat deliveries engage experts in the industry.

Experts in the industry include Serco, CDS and Ice Cold Bodies to name but a few.

SERCO

SERCO Industries specializes in the design and manufacturing of insulated and dry freight truck bodies and trailers.

These trailers are relied upon by Southern Africa’s leading transporters and long-distance haulers to carry everything from ice-cream to day-old chicks, from beef to bread – safely and hygienically.

SERCO’s success as a market leader can be attributed to their state of the art coated steel injected panel technology which enables them to offer the lowest life cycle costs in the industry through improved durability and thermal performance. With extensive experience in our specialized field as well as our in-house design capabilities, you will have no doubt that you have selected the right partner to “give you the edge” in a competitive market.

 




Copyright © 2023 – ButcherSA –  Web design company