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In an age where you can acquire products from all over the world, regardless of the country of origin, it is important to consider how to uphold the quality of goods, particularly during shipping. This is even more pressing when dealing with perishable goods due to requiring a precisely controlled environment, packaging, and so on to maintain their quality and prevent them from spoiling.

Carrots and Leeks placed on a wooden table

In this guide, we’re taking a look at the process of shipping perishable goods and what needs to considered and put into action when undertaking this task.

What Are Perishable and Non-Perishable Goods?

Starting with the basics – what are perishable and non-perishable goods? Perishable goods are products that deteriorate over time as a result of their environment. Common examples include fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, chemicals and pharmaceutical products. This means that perishable goods require particular attention and specific environments to preserve their short lifespan. For instance, some products may need to be stored at very low temperatures to maintain their quality; this is often done using a refrigerator.

Non-perishable goods, on the other hand, have a much longer shelf life in comparison and don’t require such precise environments to uphold their quality. Non-perishable food examples include dry goods, canned goods or dehydrated foods.

What Environment Should Perishable Goods be Kept in?

The environment to uphold the quality and shelf life of perishable goods varies, with different temperatures needed for different products. Refrigerators are used to keep products at low temperatures; this slows down the process of chemical changes which occur due to the nature of perishable goods. Failure to do so can result in a spoilt and subsequently unsafe product, which is dangerous for end consumers. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the environment of perishable goods by making sure temperatures are correct, refrigerators are working correctly and so on.

However, not all perishables need to kept at low temperatures; some need to be kept warm or even frozen. Therefore, it is essential to establish what environment your goods need to stored at to prevent them from spoiling.

How Should Perishable Goods be Packaged?

The shipping of perishable goods is considered by some to be the hardest aspect within the food manufacturing industry. Due to the delicate nature of these items, it’s important to limit the amount of movement that occurs during shipping. Having a well-built foundation is vital in shipping perishables, so if you are sending large quantities, make sure you use high-quality pallets.

Next, you need to protect goods from environmental factors, such as dust. One way to ensure this is by shrink wrapping perishable goods. Shrink wrapping machinery is an essential piece of equipment vital to the process of the packing perishable goods and is necessary to create a product that is adequately packaged in an efficient and timely manner, with little waste.

It is also important to keep in mind that some perishables need to be able to breathe to avoid spoiling. Therefore, you need to make sure you allow for ventilation, yet have appropriate protection from moisture and dust.

What Courier Should You Use When Transporting Perishable Goods?

Whether you’re a business shipping perishables without the luxury of in-house transport methods or personally sending goods to a friend, finding the right courier is essential to ensure the success of this delicate process. To find the right courier for you, make sure to do your research, look at reviews and keep in mind that while one option may cheaper than another, the overall goal is to maintain the quality of your perishables. While this may require a little trial and error of one courier to the next, taking the time to find a courier who can provide high-quality service will be worth it in the end!

Perishable goods are delicate by nature and consequently, require an invested effort to uphold their quality during shipping. This is not an easy task, but failure to do so can result in a product that isn’t fit for purpose which will ultimately be more costly than the original venture for upholding the quality during shipping.

Additionally, the environment and packing solutions you use are dictated by the specific type of perishables you are shipping. Therefore, it’s essential to research the products and know the best methods to prevent them from spoiling.

Did you find this guide helpful? If you’d like to find out more about our shrink wrapping products here at Kempner, get in touch via our social media channels now. Alternatively, visit our blog to discover more about making your packaging process more efficient by Reducing Excess Packaging.