Early infant foods (formula milk, purees and jars of baby food) contain organic substances that are sensitive to environmental conditions. A great solution to overcome this problem are our thermal insulators for palletized products and thermal box liners.

Suitable temperature for the transport of baby food

Dehydrated foods such as milk powders and powdered baby food are quite resistant to high temperatures. However, jars of baby food made with vegetables and meat may spoil when exposed to high temperatures over a long period of time.

In 2015, researchers in food chemistry at the Sapienza University of Rome carried out the study Infant Milk Formulas: "Effect of Storage Conditions on the Stability of Powdered Products towards Autoxidation".

The study showed good stability of these products against autoxidation when stored for one year at 20°C, three months at 40°C or two weeks at 55°C, provided they were tightly sealed (dangerous levels were detected in open samples stored for three weeks at 28°C).

Samples of commercial fruit-based baby food stored under refrigerated conditions (4°C) and at room temperature (20°C) showed the highest quality and nutrient stability compared to those stored in higher temperatures (40°C and 60°C).

With this research in mind, we can say that the ideal storage temperature for transporting baby food stands between 4°C and 20°C for hydrated products, and may be slightly higher for dehydrated products.

Humidity and solar radiation in the transport of baby food

Both dehydrated infant formula and jars of baby food should be transported in a dry environment away from sunlight.

Dehydrated foods are highly hygroscopic, which means that they are liable to absorb moisture. Potential water absorption would drastically reduce their shelf life by increasing bacterial contamination.

In the case of hydrated baby food, high humidity and a temperature close to 30°C favour the growth of bacterial or fungal microorganisms.

Solar radiation affects omega 3 oils and antioxidant vegetable extracts. Any product containing active and live ingredients should be stored at cooler temperatures and in dark places for maximum effect.

Isothermal solutions for transporting baby food

In both sea and air transport, temperature and humidity can fluctuate greatly, affecting the quality of the product. A good example is when the pallet is placed on a runway, with a high ambient temperature, before being loaded into the hold of the aircraft (low temperature).

In cases like these, Embacover, our thermal insulator for palletised products, helps to keep the temperature level and prevent heat transfer when outside of the hold.

For journeys of more than 24 hours, we recommend including cold packs inside the pallet cover. The cold packs always stay dry, thus helping to maintain low temperatures without changing relative humidity conditions.

Embacover for palletised cargo offers similar advantages to thermal box liners:

• Thermal protection: optimal temperature control for your shipments.
• Protection against humidity: isolates cargo from container rain and reduces the relative humidity of the cargo.
• Odour and dirt isolation: single-use cover which prevents the spread of odours and avoids the need to wash containers afterwards.
• Easy to put on.
• Cost - saving

If you would like more information on the packing and transport of baby food, please contact our experts for advice on the best solution.