Articles
USE OF AN INSULATED BAG FROM THE SUPERMARKET TO MAINTAIN ‘ELSANTA’ STRAWBERRY TEMPERATURE TO HOUSEHOLDS
Article number
1079_20
Pages
187 – 192
Language
English
Abstract
The issue of temperature control or maintenance for perishable fresh produce is an important area and particularly so for highly perishable products such as strawberries.
Much research and investigation has been on cool chain stops at the retail outlet and there are very limited studies of the last mile between the retail outlet and the consumer domestic refrigerator.
This study looks at the typical temperature of Elsanta strawberries at the time of purchase in representative UK supermarkets and then the temperature rise of both the pulp and the air within the punnet under different temperature scenarios.
Results from this study showed that the range of mean pulp temperature at purchase from six supermarkets was 6.3 to 13.0°C during a 10-week retail display period.
Three temperature scenarios were simulated from 5 to 10°C, 5 to 15°C, and 10 to 30°C. A single punnet of Elsanta strawberries was put in a supermarket plastic bag (High Density Polyethylene) or within the light weight insulated bags (LIB-White or LIB-Reflective). The physical and mechanical characteristics of three materials were measured for thickness, tensile strength, percent elongation, and water vapour transmission rate.
The insulated bags kept pre-chilled strawberries and delayed the increase of air and pulp temperature by about 20 and 10% respectively over 3 h, when compared with control (plastic bag). This study showed that the insulated bag has a potential to assist cool temperature management and reduce strawberry deterioration from supermarket to household.
Much research and investigation has been on cool chain stops at the retail outlet and there are very limited studies of the last mile between the retail outlet and the consumer domestic refrigerator.
This study looks at the typical temperature of Elsanta strawberries at the time of purchase in representative UK supermarkets and then the temperature rise of both the pulp and the air within the punnet under different temperature scenarios.
Results from this study showed that the range of mean pulp temperature at purchase from six supermarkets was 6.3 to 13.0°C during a 10-week retail display period.
Three temperature scenarios were simulated from 5 to 10°C, 5 to 15°C, and 10 to 30°C. A single punnet of Elsanta strawberries was put in a supermarket plastic bag (High Density Polyethylene) or within the light weight insulated bags (LIB-White or LIB-Reflective). The physical and mechanical characteristics of three materials were measured for thickness, tensile strength, percent elongation, and water vapour transmission rate.
The insulated bags kept pre-chilled strawberries and delayed the increase of air and pulp temperature by about 20 and 10% respectively over 3 h, when compared with control (plastic bag). This study showed that the insulated bag has a potential to assist cool temperature management and reduce strawberry deterioration from supermarket to household.
Publication
Authors
S. Chaiwong, C.F.H. Bishop
Keywords
cool chain, retail display, punnet, Fragaria × ananassa
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