Timestrip launches indicator for frozen food

Timestrip has launched DefrostWatch – a new product within the TimestripPlus range of indicators that shows the amount of time a product has spent above its threshold temperature.

DefrostWatch is designed not only to show whether a freezer has ever experienced a temporary malfunction or loss of power that results in its internal temperature rising above zero Celsius (32 Fahrenheit), but also how long the food was allowed to thaw before re-freezing. Frozen food that thaws for more than two hours and then re-freezes represents a significant health risk, as cautioned by government bodies such as the US public health agency FSIS.

DefrostWatch consist of a specially formulated indicator housed in a casing that is designed to sit in commercial or household freezers. Activated by squeezing a bubble on top of the indicator, a viewing window shows that the DefrostWatch is active by changing color from white to blue. As long as the product is stored in normal freezer temperatures, the color does not progress. If the temperature rises above freezing (zero Celsius), the color progresses across the scale, showing how long the food has been exposed to potentially unsafe storage conditions. When the freezer returns to its correct temperature, the color stops progressing, allowing a quick and easy decision on whether the food is still safe to eat.

Timestrip has already received an order from Daymark Safety Systems, the US leader in personal and food safety systems, which will include DefrostWatch in its range of products that are marketed to food service companies throughout the US.

In addition, an opportunity has been identified to sell DefrostWatch to US households prone to power interruptions during ‘storm season’ (between June and September) as well as to owners of mobile or second homes. To this end, the company is targeting a number of US retailers who sell ‘storm season’ related products.

Reuben Isbitsky, joint CEO of Timestrip, said: ‘This is an exciting product because unlike thermometers which only read current temperature, DefrostWatch provides an easy to read history of unsafe temperatures, ensuring compliance with safety guidelines. Previously, the only way to do this was with sophisticated electronic solutions which are extremely expensive and rely on external power sources, which are not viable for consumers or even most businesses.’

Jeff Palmer, president of Daymark Safety Systems, said: ‘Daymark is delighted to be the first to market this unique product which combines an unprecedented combination of high tech performance with low price. We believe DefrostWatch should be a permanent fixture in every commercial freezer to ensure consumer safety and meeting commercial food safety requirements.’

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