You Can’t Ship Without Pallets
Pallets are one of the most important material handling tools of the food and agricultural industries.
Whether plastic or wood, pallets are essential for transporting, storing, and protecting goods throughout the supply chain. Different types of pallets offer specific benefits others can’t compete with – so choosing the correct pallet ultimately depends on the products or payload you are shipping and the unique characteristics of you industry or application.
Some industries maintain strict handling standards to meet regulations designed to protect consumers. For example, the Food and Agricultural industries demand for proper sanitation has led to strict regulations for shipping food products to reduce the likelihood of contamination.
Outbreaks of foodborne illnesses linked to contaminated wood pallets provided additional need for improved practices – and led to additional regulation.
Food And Agricultural Industries
Food and Agricultural industry products are a part of all of our lives and play an important role in maintaining public health. The need for sanitation and safety is even greater as a result. Many businesses in this industry are switching to plastic pallets from wood in order to reduce the chance of contamination.
Plastic pallets protect finished goods and organic materials used to produce them from contamination and spoilage from pests.
Some examples of companies in the Food and Agricultural Industry are:
* Breweries & Wineries
* Fruit & Vegetable Farms
* Grocery Stores
* Livestock Farms
* Pharmaceutical Companies
* Dairies
* Cheesemakers
* Slaughterhouses
* Restaurants
* Commercial Kitchens
* Granaries
* Tree & Plant Nurseries
Contamination Concerns in the Food and Agricultural Industry
Recently, we have seen many foodborne illness outbreaks due to these contaminations. Some of the outbreaks have caused human fatalities.
* Since 2016, there have been 3 instances of hepatitis A outbreaks linked to frozen tuna and strawberries along with raw scallops.
* In 2015, we saw a listeria outbreak in the ice cream company Blue Bell that unfortunately took some lives.
Wood Pallets used in the Food and Agricultural Industry
Wooden pallets are notorious for harboring pathogens which can create these illnesses and are unsafe for food handling. Wood pallets have splinters and nails which puncture and injure.
In order to use these wood pallets, the pallets need to comply with the ISPM-15 regulations that include processes that include heat treatment or fumigation.
Unfortunately, treatments make wood susceptible to mold and toxins. In fact, many recent healthcare recalls are due to the toxic chemicals used to treat wooden pallets. The Blue Bell listeria outbreak is linked unsanitary wood pallets.
Not surprisingly, the problems with the wood pallets have given rise to companies using plastic pallets in the food and agricultural industry.
Photo by Shimla Hills, https://blog.shimlahills.com/
Plastic Pallets in the Food and Agricultural Industry
The solution to cutting down contamination problems in the food and agricultural industry is by using plastic pallets. Since the demand for hygiene in the industry is so high, it only makes sense to use pallets that provide unbeatable resistance to contamination and are easy to sanitize.
Using plastic pallets relieves the stress caused by industry regulations and less consistent means of moving goods. What do we mean by this?
Consider The Following: Our plastic pallet customers don’t worry about ISPM-15 certifications.
Using plastic pallets allows for automatic exemptions from export pallet regulations that are enforced by the USDA on all wooden pallets. Besides the USDA’s regulations, the FDA just finalized its ruling on the transportation of Human and Animal food.
Food Safety Modernization Act
The FDA just finalized the FSMA on the sanitary transportation of human and animal foods. This is in effort to protect foods coming from farms to being consumed during transit. The goal of the rule is to prevent practices during transportation that create risks to the safety of the food.
Common practices include, failure to properly refrigerate food, inadequate cleaning of vehicles between loads and failure to properly protect food. Requirements have been created for carriers by motor or rail vehicles, loaders, shippers and receivers involved to ensure the safety of the foods during transportation. There are four main key requirements to the Act.
Vehicles and Transportation
The rule requires all vehicles and transportation equipment to not cause the food it transports to become contaminated. All vehicles and equipment used in transportation need to be adequately cleanable for their intended use.
Transportation Operations
Transportation operations are measurements such as adequate temperature controls, preventing of ready to eat food from touching raw food so it doesn’t get contaminated, protecting food from nonfood items and finally keeping food away from cross contact, like that of a food allergen.
Training
There now will be required training of all personnel in sanitary transportation practices as well as documenting the training. The carriers who are covered by the new rules are responsible for providing the food safety training to the personnel.
Records
Records of agreements, training and written procedures are now required.
FDA Approved Pallets
The ultimate plastic pallet for handling food and agricultural products are products that meet FDA regulations.
FDA Product are made from 100% virgin plastic resins for the ultimate in safe handling and FDA compliance.
One Way Solutions offers FDA approved plastic pallets that can be used for storing food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Our FDA pallets come in rackable and stackable options while also meeting FDA fire retardant requirements. These FDA pallets are available in blue, black, yellow, green, grey, red and beige.
Already Using Plastic Pallets?
How have you overcome your warehousing and transportation challenges using food and agricultural pallets?
Please let us know in the comments below.
Need Help Selecting A Pallet?
Our Plastic Pallet Experts are happy to help you find the right plastic Plastic Pallet and send you a quote that includes shipping costs.
Please contact us to find the perfect pallet at the best price.
About Robin Kiefer
Robin Spencer Kiefer connects customers with solutions and products. Robin is the Digital Marketing Manager of One Way Solutions.
