Butcher opts for wireless safety monitoring
Catering and retail butcher Bay Provisions has installed a Checkit wireless food safety monitoring system from Elektron Technology to replace manual temperature measurements. Checkit fixed sensors monitor the temperature of walk-in chillers, display freezers and other cold storage units, while a handheld unit is used to check the temperature of goods-in and log daily cleaning schedules. Measurements are automatically recorded and stored centrally and the system provides instant alerts to any PC, tablet or smartphone if a rise in temperature is detected.
Established for over ten years, Bay Provisions primarily serves the fast food restaurant sector and with its business 95% poultry, maintaining correct cold storage temperatures and following a rigorous HACCP plan are essential. When deliveries arrive, Checkit’s handheld temperature probe lets staff quickly measure and record the temperature of goods-in with a single button press. With each supplier’s details already entered on the system, Checkit automatically creates a detailed record for future inspection. It makes the day-to-day food safety process faster and more efficient while user-defined alerts ensure that nothing is missed. With the HACCP cleaning schedule also on the system, Checkit makes sure that HACCP processes are always followed and correct.
“With wireless sensors in place in all of our cold storage units, Checkit gives us a much more accurate account of the temperature, particularly during the defrost cycle,” explained Bay Provisions proprietor Gerald Healy. “You can see exactly how far the temperature rises and how quickly it comes back down, so you know whether your product has stayed within the range it should be. It’s also helpful in that you can identify equipment that might be failing, so instead of losing your product, you can do something about it. I find it gives you more confidence in your equipment and your products.
“It’s about the quality of your product. If you get the temperature right, the quality of your product is going to be far greater. If you’re doing your checks manually, you’re not seeing the temperature 24/7. With Checkit, you know you’re keeping your product at the right temperature, and if you have got it at the right temperature, the depreciation of the value of your goods is going to be less. In the long term, that’s going to increase your percentages and save you money.”
Dr. Martin Nash, product manager at Elektron Technology, added, “A faulty refrigerator can result in thousands of pounds worth of food spoilage, while a food-borne illness or failure to meet HACCP requirements can damage reputations and lead to costly litigation. Checkit mitigates these risks and saves time, money and energy costs by combining advanced wireless technology with real-time data collection, analysis, reporting and alarm notification.”
The flexible, modular system is fully scalable for any type of food operation, from a single local site through to demanding multi-site operations, using intuitive web-based software to configure, monitor and manage the complete network from one location. All food safety data is stored and archived centrally for trend analysis and food storage optimisation, providing a full audit trail for site inspections or future investigations
