Select your language

Breaking the cold generates losses

altIdentifying the exact point where an error is made in the cold chain or in the refrigeration process of a poultry product, contributes to healing the great losses that companies in this industry present in the global context.

by: María Cecilia Hernández

There are many reasons why the refrigeration process and excessive care in the cold chain are vital points in the poultry industry.

From obtaining a product of the highest quality, to the economic results in all the productive dynamics and the sector in each country, are elements that are affected, either negatively or positively, because of good or bad refrigeration.

Making mistakes in the process of maintaining the cold chain in this sensitive market is more common than you might think.

- Publicidad -

Only so far have entrepreneurs begun to realize the importance of this factor of the production system for the economy of their companies. Therefore, they have begun to implement methods of evaluation of their processes and quality control, with the aim of reducing the risk of making mistakes during refrigeration or breaking the cold chain.

In this edition, ACR LATINOAMÉRICA wanted to talk with the Colombian consultant and specialist in poultry production, Florentino Torres Meneses, to tell our readers what are the mistakes that are most frequently made in this industry and how they could be avoided.


Follow the instructions
According to the expert, there are several ways to cool or freeze the bird, in smaller companies they use ice and other companies make use of the recirculated water system. There is also cooling in Chiller that consists of immersing the bird in ice water, from 0 to 2 degrees Celsius for spaces of 60 to 70 minutes.

You can talk about a refrigerated product when the cold level goes from 0 to 4 degrees Celsius and frozen when the bird is at a level of -18 degrees Celsius.

Breaking the cold chain of the poultry product is very easy, a human error can cause substantial losses to a company, just by making a temperature rise that comes in gradual decline is already making an irreparable mistake.

"From the moment the bird is slaughtered, an adequate cooling process must begin. It is essential that the product is not left out of cold rooms at any time; the loading must be in air-conditioned areas and the time spent by the product there must be as little as possible; during cooling the product should not undergo variations greater than 2 degrees Celsius; the transport must be refrigerated with the health and temperature conditions indicated; the delivery must be very fast and place it in refrigerators or refrigerators that meet the appropriate temperature recommendations for refrigerated product, these are from 0 to 4 degrees Celsius and for frozen it is -18 degrees C, "said Torres.

The most frequent errors
As stated by the consultant, this process is very vulnerable to the commission of human errors. "Not being strict with the recommended temperatures is a bad practice that is committed especially at the sales stage," says Florentino.

- Publicidad -

This could be due to the little knowledge that the final sellers have of the conditions that must be followed in these cases. Specialists in the sector say that training in this regard is urgent, especially since it is the sellers who are responsible for contact with the final consumer.

One of the mistakes that is made in the plant, for example, is to misuse the equipment, because if any is designed for freezing you should not put fresh or refrigerated products there, and the same happens when a piece of equipment is designed for refrigerated products, it should not be used to store frozen product.

This is a process in which the temperature must drop systematically and comply with very specific protocols. "This is very common in the industry and generates large product losses, quality deterioration and increased yields or losses due to thawing," said the specialist.

The poultry industry is very varied, you will find all kinds of equipment, refrigerants and different evaporation temperatures are used. Reciprocating compressors are used in Freon and Ammonia and screw compressors in Freon and Ammonia. "One of the particularities of this business is that there are no plants with preconceived designs of their cooling infrastructure, on the contrary, as it grows, the equipment is coupled and the systems are implemented according to the needs of evolution," explained Florentino Torres.

Automating is winning
Some entrepreneurs of the poultry guild have not perceived the importance of automating their processes, a fundamental aspect in the improvement of results both in terms of efficiency and quality, and consequently, in economic terms.

When a company has low levels of automation, it incurs greater use of labor and has less access to process control, which has a direct impact on the quality of the final product.

- Publicidad -

"Not automating contributes negatively to losing the traceability of the product because those systems that are not monitored much less have operating logs that would be very useful to observe specific cases of problems that happened long ago, and in turn, would allow the correct solution of the error or prevent it from being committed again," explained the specialist in detail, who also indicated that "in this industry many entrepreneurs consider that managing the quality of their service has to do only with responding to the client and solving the inconveniences without analyzing where exactly they occurred and why, without knowing for sure what happened. It shouldn't be like this."

Finally, Florentino Torres called on entrepreneurs in the poultry sector to be aware of the importance for this market to carry out a good refrigeration of the product. "Refrigeration is a necessary and very important process in the poultry production chain. Current cooling systems can be redesigned and future growths contemplated so as not to make grafts, but models of well-programmed systems. I have participated in a couple of redesigns of cooling systems in plants and they do not come out as expensive as it is believed and instead, significant savings are generated in energy and infrastructure. It's worth it. Also to entrepreneurs who have the opportunity to design their systems from the beginning I recommend that they look for serious, well-constituted companies with experience in the field".


Box
Consequences of poor refrigeration

Millard browning, consists of a grayish tone that the chicken acquires due to the oxidation of lipids by temperature variations.

If the cooling temperature is not adequate, the durability of the product decreases proportionally, as well as the proliferation of microorganisms such as lysteria that cause serious human diseases.

The breaking of the cold chain also generates protein denaturation that causes the food quality of the product to decrease due to the loss of the moisture of the chicken, which contains nutrients such as protein.

In addition to the above, poor refrigeration and making mistakes in the cold chain means a decrease in production, which represents a very negative economic impact on the industry. This is something that so far entrepreneurs are analyzing.

It should be remembered that refrigeration not only influences the visual appearance and duration of chicken meat, but also its tenderness and performance by weight.


No comments

• If you're already registered, please log in first. Your email will not be published.

Leave your comment

In reply to Some User
Register for the Building Automation Webinar: Keys to Understanding Modbus and BACnet

Register for the Building Automation Webinar: Keys to Understanding Modbus and BACnet

International.  On March 27, 2025, ACR Latin America will offer a webinar focused on building automation protocols, with an emphasis on understanding Modbus and BACnet.

Scientists develop the first elastocaloric air conditioner on a commercial scale

Scientists develop the first elastocaloric air conditioner on a commercial scale

International. Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed the first elastocaloric air conditioning system with cooling capacity on a commercial scale.

Daikin recognized among the

Daikin recognized among the "Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2025"

International. Daikin Industries has been selected as one of the Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2025, a distinction awarded by Clarivate, a global information services company based in London,...

Condensation Control: A Challenge for HVAC System Efficiency

Condensation Control: A Challenge for HVAC System Efficiency

International. Condensation damp represents a major challenge in the air conditioning of buildings, affecting energy efficiency, indoor air quality and occupant comfort.

Honeywell to Convert Its Refrigerant Business to a Standalone Company: Solstice Advanced Materials

Honeywell to Convert Its Refrigerant Business to a Standalone Company: Solstice Advanced Materials

United States. Honeywell announced that its refrigerant business will be renamed Solstice Advanced Materials as part of its plan to become an independent, publicly traded company in the U.S.

SODECA revolutionizes fire safety with a simulation of its pressurization system

SODECA revolutionizes fire safety with a simulation of its pressurization system

International. SODECA's BOXPDS has surprised with an innovative live demonstration of its evacuation route pressurization system. The system creates a barrier against smoke in just three seconds.

Resideo will invest more than 4.9 million dollars in Aguascalientes to install corporate office

Resideo will invest more than 4.9 million dollars in Aguascalientes to install corporate office

Mexico. The U.S. company Resideo announced an investment of more than 4.9 million dollars (99 million Mexican pesos) to establish a corporate office in Aguascalientes, from where it will provide...

Webinar: Building Automation Protocol: Understanding Modbus and BACnet

Webinar: Building Automation Protocol: Understanding Modbus and BACnet

Topic: Building Automation Protocol Overview: Understanding Modbus and BACnet By: Camilo Olvera, Sales Manager for Mexico Armstrong Fluid Technology Alejandro Hernández, Distribution Manager –...

Six Marketing Trends for HVAC Companies in 2025

Six Marketing Trends for HVAC Companies in 2025

The HVAC industry is in a stage of limitless transformation, driven by technology, sustainability and the evolution of the expectations of all consumers. By Andrea Álvarez*

Mabe to invest $668 million in Mexico through 2027, despite tariffs

Mabe to invest $668 million in Mexico through 2027, despite tariffs

Mexico. The multinational Mabe announced an investment of 668 million dollars in Mexico between 2025 and 2027, regardless of the tariffs imposed by the United States.

Free Subscription
Remember Me
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
DO YOU NEED A SERVICE OR PRODUCT QUOTE?
LASTEST INTERVIEWS
SITE SPONSORS










LASTEST NEWSLETTER
Ultimo Info-Boletin