Affiliation: | aAristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Agriculture, Dept. of Food Science and Technology, Lab. of Food Hygiene and Microbiology, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece bNational Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering, Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Technology, 5 Iroon Polytechniou, 15780 Zografou, Greece cAgricultural University of Athens, Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Microbiology and Biotechnology of Foods, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece |
Abstract: | The principles of a novel chill chain management policy, coded Safety Monitoring and Assurance System (SMAS) for the optimisation of the distribution of chilled food products within the chill chain are developed. In this system, a new approach based on actual risk evaluation at important points of the chill chain is used in order to promote products to the next stage of distribution. This evaluation based on product's time–temperature history, variation in product's characteristics (e.g. aw, pH, etc.), and the use of predictive models for the growth of food pathogens, allows to give priority to products in such a way that risk at consumption time is minimized. The effectiveness of SMAS was evaluated against the First In First Out (FIFO) approach, the current method for food distribution, in a case study on the risk of listeriosis of cooked ham using the Monte Carlo simulation technique. Furthermore, the two approaches were compared for their effect on the quality of the products in terms of remaining shelf life at the time of consumption. The results showed that following the SMAS approach the risk of listerisosis is significantly lower while the spoiled products at the time of consumption are significantly reduced compared to FIFO approach. |