Investigation of Changes in Packaging Properties of Refrigerated Food Products

Abstract

This study presents the experimental investigations of the thermal conductivity properties of refrigerated packages in an autonomous commercial open refrigerated display cabinet. The study aimed to determine whether the type of packaging can reduce the impact of a malfunctioning refrigeration unit on the product. The characteristics of refrigerated packages are studied during the freezing process on the level of loading and the arrangement of the packages in the display case. For the research, four types of packaging were used: combined, composite, plastic, and pulp. Based on the results obtained, the compliance of the packages with the established/existing requirements was determined during each test. It was found that during the refrigeration process, the permissible temperature norms in the case of individual packages complied with the most commonly used. None of the test packages met the norms during refrigeration by filling the products to the intended limit. As a result, simplified labeling of the respective cooling zones is proposed, and the issue of ensuring the uniformity of the cooling itself remains open. Given the cost of production, it is also proposed to take into account this issue (marking the corresponding cooling zones) when designing similar refrigeration equipment.