An infrared gun held against a carton does not count as this method's measurement. The Turkish Food Codex communiqué (2001/45, Annex II) requires the product to be drilled and measured with a probe: the probe and the product penetration instrument are pre-cooled first, a hole matching the probe diameter is made, and the probe goes 2.5 mm below the surface.
The same measurement discipline applies to distribution in the minus eighteen regime: what proves compliance is the value taken from the product, not the type of vehicle.
- Probe and penetration instrument are brought close to product temperature in the cold space that holds the load.
- Drilling and measuring are done in that same cold space; opening the carton on the dock breaks the condition.
- If the product does not allow 2.5 mm, the probe goes to at least 3 to 4 times its diameter; for products that cannot be drilled, such as green peas, a sharp probe goes to the centre of the pack.
- The value is read once it is steady.
The measuring instrument must be accurate to ±0.5 °C between -20 and +30 °C and carry a calibration certificate. Product identity, lot, measuring point, instrument and time go on the form; an air logger records only the environment and does not replace the product reading.
