Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/536121
palletcentral.com PalletCentral • July-August 2015 19 inhibited air circulation throughout the lading, leading to temperature claims and product degradation. The change to pallet loading came down to what was most efficient and effective in the transport of perishables throughout the cold chain. Union contracts were negotiated to reduce the pushback from the labor halls and the business adapted to the new world of improved efficiency. The use of pallets as the best shipping platform was boosted with the adoption of a standard 48x40 pallet as agreed to by the GMA and many other industries including the produce market place. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) maintains six standards for pallet dimensions around the globe and applauded the adoption of the 48x40 standard as the common size in the United States. The adoption was an evolution as distribution centers racking systems needed to be adjusted to the standard pallet and this did not happen overnight. Today the use of a standard size pallet is a benefit to every industry. Now as we are in the second decade of this century, nearly 80% of all shipments entering commerce in the U.S. and nearly 100% in the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables uses the standard 48x40 pallet. The pallet plays a critical component in the fresh produce cold chain. A good pallet provides space for adequate air circulation in every mode of transportation and adds to load stability while improving the efficiencies in the loading and unloading of shipments. Challenges continue in the food industry as we are faced with the daily concerns of food safety. The pending rules from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) touch every phase and component of our extensive food distribution system. All facets of the food chain has come under scrutiny, even pallets. The major goal of FSMA is prevention of food borne illnesses and reduce the potential of harmful food products from entering commerce. The good news is there is no documented evidence of a wood pallet ever being the cause of a food borne illness or the source a contaminated shipment of produce. The industry needs to maintain that clean record. This is not to indicate wood is 100% safe as it can be the carrier of pathogens. A 2007 report by the FDA stated 10% of pallets they intercepted and tested had traces of E. coli, listeria and other bacteria that are The use of wood pallets continues to expand in the produce industr y and around the globe as our food chain looks to maintain and improve efficiencies along with solid food safety programs.