From a number of reports and case evidence, cold chain food is indeed highly correlated with the new coronavirus, but is not that why we should reject all cold chain food? In fact, this is unnecessary and unrealistic.
Because the cold chain has been deeply integrated into our lives, it can be said that all aspects of our lives are inextricably linked to the cold chain.
So, what is a cold chain?
Cold chain refers to some products, in the process of processing, storage, transportation, distribution and retail, use, each link is always in the specific low temperature environment necessary for the product, reduce loss, prevent pollution and deterioration, to ensure product safety of the special supply chain system.
The scope of application of this "chain" is very broad, including primary agricultural products, such as vegetables, fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, aquatic products and flower products; Processed food, such as frozen food, ice cream, dairy products, chocolate, fast food raw materials, etc.; It also includes special commodities, such as medicines and vaccines. Of course, the most densely intermingled with our lives is cold chain food, frozen and frozen food in the cold chain logistics is always in the specified low temperature environment, which can ensure food quality and reduce food loss.
The storage period of food transported by cold chain logistics is one to several times longer than that of ordinary refrigerated food, and the temperature is controlled through the circulation link, which can effectively reduce the growth of microorganisms and food corruption. At the same time, in the process of cold chain logistics, the breathing state of fruits and vegetables after picking is suppressed by gas regulation, so as to achieve the effect of fruit and vegetables preservation. It can be seen that cold chain logistics plays an important role in improving our quality of life and convenience.
So, what is the core magic weapon of cold chain logistics? What is the key to its value?
First of all, since it is "cold chain logistics", it has to mention temperature control. One of the core components of cold chain logistics is "temperature control and insulation", which includes constant temperature and humidity cold storage which has precise requirements for the humidity and temperature of stored items and "air conditioning cold storage" which plays the role of air conditioning and preservation.
The so-called air conditioning preservation, is to reduce the oxygen concentration in the air from 21% to 3%-5%, on the basis of the cold storage, add a set of air conditioning system, the use of temperature and control of oxygen content of the two aspects of the joint action, to achieve the post-harvest breathing state of fruits and vegetables.
Secondly, cold chain storage is also essential, cold chain storage is generally used for fresh agricultural products, product production, circulation is too heavy due to order or market forecast in advance and temporary storage of products and items.
Third, it is the cold chain transmission, which means that at a certain temperature, through the use of the required transmission machinery and equipment, utensils, etc., to achieve the classification, selection and packaging of fresh agricultural products.
Fourth, cold chain handling, which is very important and difficult to operate a step. When refrigerating or freezing goods, the unloading vehicle and the unloading warehouse should be sealed to ensure that the temperature rise of the goods during unloading is controlled within the permissible range. In addition, when the unloading operation is interrupted, the transport equipment body door should be immediately closed to maintain the normal operation of the refrigeration system.
Fifth, it is cold chain transportation, which is also an important link in cold chain logistics. The cost of cold chain transportation is higher, and it includes more complex mobile refrigeration technology and incubator manufacturing technology, and cold chain transportation contains more risks and uncertainties.
The above links are a link in the cold chain process, and in order to make the whole process of cold chain logistics automatic and efficient operation, it is inevitable that the use of information technology, that is, the information control of the cold chain. Information technology is the nervous system of modern cold chain logistics. Through the support of the system information platform, it is easy to realize the strategic collaborative management of all resources of enterprises, reduce the cost of cold chain logistics, and improve the market competitiveness and management level of cold chain logistics enterprises.
Having said so much, have we learned more about cold chain logistics?
So, why has the cold chain become the "hidden ground" of the new coronavirus?
That's because viruses don't freeze to death at low temperatures. In general, the colder the temperature, the longer the virus will survive. The low temperature environment created by the cold chain provides a good survival space for the virus. In general, in the minus 20℃ environment, the virus can survive for several months, even ordinary cold chain transport, the virus can survive for several weeks. If items contaminated in high-incidence areas, including food or outer packaging, are transported through the cold chain, they can carry the virus to non-affected areas, causing contact transmission and triggering a new COVID-19 outbreak.
So, can cold chain food still be eaten?
No COVID-19 infections have been reported from direct consumption of cold chain foods. The novel coronavirus is a respiratory virus that is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets and close person-to-person contact, and the possibility of infection through the digestive tract is very low. From the perspective of epidemiological traceability analysis, the infected population is a high-risk group of people who repeatedly contact the outer packaging of imported cold chain food in a specific environment, such as porters.
In fact, in response to this situation, many authoritative experts also said that China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic has entered the stage of regular prevention and control, and there is no need to panic over sporadic cases in several regions recently. However, it should be emphasized that the arrival of winter provides a more suitable environment for the spread of the novel coronavirus relying on cold chain logistics, and we need to prevent people and objects.
In the process of "prevention", cold chain quarantine inspection is the link that needs special attention. It is necessary to establish standardized and orderly food quarantine and inspection work, arrange special personnel to manage the transportation work with large transportation volume, long distance and high pollution probability, do a good job of routine cleaning, disinfection and other health treatment, and implement real-time monitoring and temperature recording of cold chain logistics, to ensure that the quality of food in the transportation process meets the requirements, and ensure the safety and health of imported food.
This article is from: China Digital Science and Technology Museum