Yes, it does. Warm, humid air that enters when the lid opens leaves its water on any cold surface it touches. The water comes from three places: the outside air let in, moisture on the product's own surface, and condensation on the outside of a melting plate. On a warm, humid day the incoming air carries the most water.
Condensation itself is rarely the problem; the damage depends on where the water collects. Water on the base is usually harmless if the drain hole is clear. Corrugated cardboard, though, loses strength when it takes up moisture: if the bottom box of a stack softens, the row above collapses and the product is crushed. So in a cold container cardboard does not sit directly under a plate, and moisture-barrier board or a plastic crate as a separator is used instead.
To cut condensation:
- do not open the lid needlessly, and load in one go
- put a thin divider between product and plate so dripping water does not reach the packaging
- keep the drain hole clear
- after every round empty the container and wipe the interior and the gasket dry; odour and bacterial growth start in a container closed wet
