OCU study on temperatures in supermarkets

Madrid, 3 September, 2015. A study on the temperature of refrigerated and frozen products in supermarkets notes that the vast majority of the establishments are up to standard, even though temperature regulations in shops have been repealed. OCU has analysed the temperature in 63 shops belonging to different supermarket chains located in 6 cities (Barcelona, ​​Gijón, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Sevilla and Valencia). The study results are published in number 406 of the OCU-Compra Maestra magazine for September.

OCU proved, thermometer in hand, that in 7% of shops refrigerated products were above 8° C, which was the maximum temperature allowed by the law which has now been repealed. In the case of frozen products, the situation is somewhat better, just 3% of frozen food was above -12° C, although 44% of vegetables and 56% of fish were below -18º C.

OCU points out that poor temperature at the point of sale, endangers the cold chain. In the case of refrigerated temperatures above 7 ° C it can shorten the shelf life of products. In the case of frozen food, if the cold chain is broken it affects product quality causing loss of texture.

The data from this study is better than that obtained in 2011. Of the seven chains visited, 5 improved on the results of four years ago; Hipercor, Alcampo, Carrefour, Dia and El Corte Inglés. Only Mercadona and Eroski were slightly worse in our assessment.

OCU’s complaint is that despite the good results, most of the rules governing retail temperature have been repealed. Instead distributors are obliged to follow instructions provided by the manufacturer. But these are not homogeneous and differ from one product to another. Often they do not respond to technical criteria but are a question of marketing.

Finally, OCU provides a series of recommendations for consumers to follow when buying refrigerated and frozen products in supermarkets:

• Leave chilled and frozen food till last. When you have finished going round the rest of the supermarket and are on your way to the checkout. This reduces the time the products will spend out of the fridge
• Choose products nearest the bottom of the fridge or freezer. Do not take frozen food that is above the chill line. Do not forget to check the expiry date.
• Discard products which are stuck together or frosted. This is a sign that they have not been kept at   the right temperature.
• Put them in a bag with an ice pack or a freezer block. An isothermal bag is no better that two plastic bags or newspaper.
• Get them into the fridge or freezer as soon as possible to try to minimise the time they spend without refrigeration.

For more information (media): Eva Jimenez Tel.: 91 722 60 61 - ejimenez@ocu.org www.ocu.org