Quality assessment of temperature-sensitive high-value food products: An application to Italian fine chocolate distribution

Modern supply chains collect and deliver products worldwide and link manufacturers and consumers over thousands of miles. In the food industry, the safety and quality of products is affected by manufacturing/processing and logistics activities, such as transportation and packaging. Transportation is likely the most critical step throughout the “food journey” from “farm-to-fork” because of the potential stresses that affect the products during shipment and storage activities. When the value and the perceived quality of products is high, the impact of such stresses can be significant and can reasonably affect the economic value of those items, as well as the experience of consumers. Among high-value and temperature-sensitive food, chocolate is a product that is loved by many because of its desirable qualities, which include a shiny gloss on the surface, snap when the chocolate is broken, and a smooth texture that becomes apparent only when the chocolate melts in the mouth. The aim of this chapter is the application of a two-step quality assessment methodology to the case of distribution of fine chocolate products, e.g., the well-known Italian Cremino and Gianduiotto. The first step consists of monitoring the temperature fluctuation during the distribution from the production plant to the point of demand, usually a candy shop. The second step deals with the simulation of the monitored shipment in a temperature- and humidity-controlled system. The simulation of the physical and environmental conditions generated during the real shipment is followed by chemical analysis and sensitivity analysis conducted separately on nonstressed products (the so-called “time zero products”) and stressed products. The effects of temperature are evaluated by comparing stressed and time zero products belonging to the same production batch. The analyses are repeated after 6 months in order to evaluate the effects due to time and shelf-life erosion. The obtained results validate the proposed quality assessment methodology and demonstrate the importance and criticality of packaging and container solutions to face unexpected temperature variations during logistic operations.