Storing chilled foods at incorrect temperatures

FSA guidance states that the fridge should be 5°C or below. Specifically, for FBOs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is a legal requirement to store cold foods below 8°C. 65 households(footnote 1) in the Kitchen Life 2 (KL2) study had a fridge/freezer thermometer installed during the fieldwork period. In 34 households, the average(footnote 2) fridge temperature measured was greater than the recommended maximum of 5°C. 8 households had an average fridge temperature above 8°C, where the potential for bacterial growth is significantly elevated. 29 food business operators(footnote 3) (FBOs) in the KL2 study had a fridge thermometer installed (28 had a freezer thermometer) during the fieldwork period. In 8 FBOs, the average fridge temperature measured was greater than the recommended maximum of 5°C, and 1 FBO had an average temperature above the legal maximum of 8°C. Overall, the influences on the storage of chilled foods at incorrect temperatures differed across households and FBOs. In households, the key influences were: the fridge design, and specifically whether the fridge had a built-in thermometer and/or alarm or whether it only had a coldness dial(footnote 4). (Physical opportunity). participants not knowing or being uncertain about the recommended operating temperature for a fridge. (Psychological capability). an absence of any routines to check the fridge temperature (Automatic motivation). These were reinforced by the following contextual factors(footnote 5): a belief that the fridge was set to the correct operating temperature (Reflective motivation). In FBOs, the key influences were: the lack of a ‘compliance culture’ in certain FBOs (Social opportunity). inconsistent routines for temperature checks on appliances (Automatic motivation.) for a small number of FBOs, the use of older fridges that did not have thermometers or alarms built into them (Physical opportunity). These were reinforced by the following contextual factors(footnote 6): beliefs about the consequences of fridges running at an incorrect temperature – specifically that fluctuations in temperature (above the recommended threshold) were not of significant concern for a minority of FBOs (Reflective motivation). concerns about the food safety risks to their customers, as well as the reputation of their business (Reflective motivation).