Tag Archives: temperatures

Winter Shipping Guidelines

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWith winter no doubt closing in on the Midwest, we need to keep in mind that at times when temperatures are too low Nelson-Jameson will not be able to ship items that cannot be allowed to freeze, which could compromise the integrity/performance of the product.The guidelines that will be followed are:

 

When the daytime high is less than 15°F  OR the nighttime low is less than 0°F, freezable items will not be shipped.

A. Do not allow to freeze – will not reconstitute and/or will be adversely affected:

Acetic Acid
All .1N Solutions
Alsan
Bromo
Cheese & Butter Color
Chemland Statibac/Asid-O-San
Chloride Standard
Coagulase Plasma
Cryoscope Standards
Delvotest P/SP Kits
EY Tellurite
Food Grade Defoamers
Gram Stains
Indicator
Methylene Blue Stains
Neutralizer
Pasteurization Standards
Penzyme Kits
pH Buffers
pH Electrodes
Prepared Media: Contact Plates, Air Sampler Strips
Raven Biological Indicators
Rutgers Test Kits
Silver Nitrates
Sodium Hypochlorite Sanitizers
SystemSure Swabs
Thermospore Suspensions
Udy Dye Solutions
Water Canisters

B. Can be reconstituted by throughly mixing:

Acid Cleaners – will freeze at relatively cool temperatures
Alkali Cleaners – will freeze at relatively cool temperatures. May need agitation to reconstitute.
Teat Dips & Udderwashes

C. Can be shipped without any adverse affect:

Butanol
Chlorfoam
To protect product integrity, we take measures not to ship during times when temperatures drop below 15ºF. This ensures your shipment is not left in an unheated truck or building overnight. We will try to ship early in the week, and suggest other shipping options to get you what you need, when you need it.
 
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Making Sense of Listeria

Listeria monocytogenes (ABC News)

Listeria monocytogenes (ABC News)

The Centers for Disease Control estimates “approximately 1600 illnesses and 260 deaths due to listeriosis [infection caused by listeria] occur annually in the United States.” Even though responsible for fewer illnesses than other pathogens that are out there, listeria’s relatively high mortality rate (especially for certain segments of the population) naturally resonates with both consumers and food producers as a focus for concern. This has especially been the case with numerous high-profile listeria cases making headlines in the past several months.

Consumers may be surprised to find out that, opposed to being some isolated super-bug, “Listeria monocytogenes is commonly found in soil and water. Animals can carry the bacterium without appearing ill and can contaminate foods of animal origin, such as meats and dairy products.” Beyond that, food processors, understanding the threat that listeria presents, are especially concerned with the fact that: “When Listeria bacteria get into a food processing factory, they can live there for years, sometimes contaminating food products.”

So what is to be done to combat listeria?   Consumers can check out information on prevention from the CDC here and information from the FDA on proper handling of ready-to-eat, refrigerated foods here. The continuing presence of listeria in the headlines will no doubt also give pause for many food processors to review internal practices/standards, and review local, state, and federal resources to address the issue. Fortunately, risks can be minimized by utilizing programs and products that target some of the following areas: cleaning and sampling; ensuring proper temperatures when processing and handling food; and separating foods and parts of the production/preparation process to avoid cross-contamination.

To assist producers find products that can be of use, Nelson-Jameson has compiled a collection of products, including testing/sampling supplies, color-coded products, and numerous other offerings to both test for and prevent listeria concerns. You can check out these products here.

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