The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) have introduced a new protocol aimed at standardizing temperature monitoring across the frozen food supply chain. This initiative is designed to improve efficiency, food quality, and sustainability from production through distribution.
The protocol outlines a unified, data-driven framework to capture and analyze temperature fluctuations throughout the cold chain. It offers guidance on identifying critical monitoring points, best practices for data management, and establishing baseline measurements for future research and improvement.
According to GCCA Senior Vice President of Strategy, Partnerships, and Policy Shane Brennan, “There are major opportunities for businesses across the cold chain to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in how they use energy to keep food frozen. This protocol is a big step forward and lays the foundation for greater collaboration to drive efficiency, sustainability, and high-quality food preservation.”
Dr. Sanjay Gummalla, AFFI’s Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Food Safety, added: “By establishing a common framework for monitoring temperature fluctuations, we’re not only improving consistency across the cold chain—we’re also laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future.”
Developed by a taskforce of industry experts, the protocol responds to advancements in equipment and monitoring technologies that provide improved access to temperature data. It aims to close knowledge gaps in understanding real-world temperature variations during the frozen product lifecycle.
The protocol will support efforts to optimize energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance food safety and shelf life. It also serves as the foundation for future industry guidance on food quality, energy measurement, and safety standards.
Learn more and download the protocol
here.
