With UK temperatures soaring, refrigerators in stores, restaurants and hotels have been coming under increasing strain and need careful monitoring to avoid food spoilage and potential food-borne health risks, says Dr. Martin Nash from Elektron Technology.
With parts of the UK under a Met Office Heatwave warning and ambient temperatures exceeding 30 degrees for long periods of time, cooling systems may struggle to cope, leaving produce vulnerable. In hot conditions, temperatures rise quickly every time a fridge or freezer door is opened. If the cold storage unit cannot cool things down rapidly before the next time the door is opened, temperatures will remain in the danger zone where food deteriorates more quickly and harmful bacteria can multiply at an alarming rate.
“If fridge temperatures are only checked manually two or three times a day, problems during the intervening period may go completely undetected,” said Martin Nash, Product Manager at Elektron Technology. “The benefit of new wireless monitoring systems such as Checkit is that temperatures, humidity and door status are measured continuously and any problems are immediately flagged up and alarms sent to your PC, smartphone or tablet.”
Checkit’s smart wireless sensors ensure round-the-clock monitoring without the need for manual checks and flexible, hand-held units collect food temperature and hygiene data at the press of a button, reducing the risk of human error. As well as sending alerts, all data collected is time-stamped and downloaded to a database, which automatically generates food safety compliance reports along with a full audit trail. The affordable and modular system is fully scalable for any type of food operation, from a single local site through to demanding multi-site operations.
“While we all welcome the hot weather, insufficient temperature monitoring can lead to thousands of pounds of wasted food and the possibility of food-borne illnesses. Being able to keep track of temperatures in real-time reduces the risks and provides peace of mind,” says Martin Nash.
The complete Checkit system can be leased from under £100 per month, making it affordable to any size of food service or retail business.
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