Dr Rachna Dave, Founder, MicroGO LLP makes the case for IoT-enabled monitoring of food temperatures in the HoReCa industry.
Why monitor temperature?
Proper temperature management is critical for ensuring food safety in restaurants, especially with perishable items like meat, chicken, fish, dairy products and cooked grains. By maintaining strict temperatures, we prevent the rapid growth of harmful bacteria that can lead to foodborne illnesses. The temperature danger zone – between 41°F (5°C) and 140°F (60°C) – is where germs multiply rapidly, posing health risks to consumers. To thwart bacterial growth, it is essential to keep cold foods below 41°F (5°C) and hot foods above 140°F (60°C). Compliance with food safety laws requires regular monitoring and recording of food temperatures, promptly addressing any issues.
Temperature regulation
In the HoReCa industry, this can be challenging, even with established guidelines. Human error poses a significant risk, as staff may overlook temperature checks or fail to report them accurately, jeopardising food safety. Buffet service amplifies this concern. Equipment failures further exacerbate the issue, leading to potential deviations in temperature control. Insufficient storage space complicates matters, as overcrowded refrigerators and freezers hinder the ability to keep food at the required temperatures.
A new approach
Based on valuable feedback from our HoReCa partners, we took up the challenge of developing an innovative automatic temperature measuring system. The result is our cutting-edge handheld device, the GOsmartTM Temperature Monitoring Gun (GOsmartTMTG), an innovative solution that measures the temperature of each food item remotely and instantly logs it into the client portal, ensuring real-time monitoring. The system also triggers alerts whenever a set temperature for a specific food item is not met, preventing potential risks to food safety.
GOsmartTG will help streamline operations, increase productivity and reduce paperwork. The temperature monitoring and management dashboard will provide useful insight for quality control. We have integrated GOsmartTG with MicroGO’s hygiene management portal, offering a holistic approach to food safety and hygiene.
How to use
- A button is provided so that the user can press and hold it in order to collect data.
- Simply point GOsmartTM TG at the surface where the temperature needs to be recorded and press and hold the trigger for three seconds.
- As the screen displays “saving”, the data is saved and collected at the server and can be checked on your computer system in real time from any part of the world.
- The device stores several units of data locally in case the internet connection is weak.