Long transportation time often leads to difficulties in the temperature control. Researches show that “temperature abuses above or below the optimal product-specific temperature range occur frequently in the cold chain, which is a situation that … endangers food safety” [1]. Insufficient refrigeration may cause food borne illness, which causes more than 125,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year in the United States [2]. Besides this, even if the temperature is controlled during transportation, the quality of foods inside the freezer will still decrease due to long transportation time. Foods’ “tenderness, flavor, aroma, juiciness, and color can all be affected” [3].
Thus, the team’s solution can reduce a number of hospitalizations and death caused by improper food transportation. With the implementation of the system we created, the flow of information within the warehouse can be efficiently distributed to the trucks and then to its destinations. This would allow deliveries be made on time as well as have better control of the truck’s temperature control, which will be monitored.
References
[1] Mercier, Samuel, et al. “Time–temperature management along the food cold chain: A review of recent developments.” Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety, vol.16, no. 4 pp. 647-667, 2017.
[2] CDC. Burden of Foodborne Illness: Findings. [Online]. http://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/2011-foodborne-estimates.html.
[3] U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Are You Storing FoodSafely? [Online]. Avaliable: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely