Table 5-1. Storage Life of Frozen Subsistence

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

established to reseal or repackage all damaged frozen

Approximate

Character of injury

lowest safe

when stored between

cargo before it stored or transshipped.

Commodity

temperature

32 . and safe tem-

perature

Pineapples ........................

45-50

Dull-green when rip-

(d) Detection of deterioration. Deterioration

ened.

due to time in storage and/or variations temperatures

Potatoes ............................

Mahogany browning

(Chippewa and

can be detected by organoleptic inspection for such

Segao), sweetening.

defects as dehydration (freezer burn), undue softness or

Pumpkins and

Decay, especially

hardshell squashes.

alternaria rot.

mealy texture, discoloration, off odor, evidence of

Sweetpotatoes ...................

Decay, pitting, inter-

weeping and evidence rancidity, and/or mold.

nal discoloration.

Tomatoes, ripe ..................

45-50

Watersoaking and

softening, decay.

(e) Initial quality or grade. The initial quality

Mature-green .....................

Poor color when ripe,

alternaria rot.

of a product at time of receipt by the Government is an

important factor which influences storage life

(4) Recommended average storage period for

expectancy. Initial quality of the product is determined

frozen perishable subsistence.

by method of processing a handling as well as the grade

of the ingredients.

(a) Temperature. Storage temperature for all

frozen subsistence items shall not exceed 0 . During

(f) Limitations.

Frozen subsistence items

shipment, the temperature shall not be higher than 10

with a recommended average storage life of months or

. For ice cream, the recommended temperature is -

less should not be stored for shipment to overseas

10 . and in no case should the temperature exceed 0

areas. Such items will have exceed the recommended

storage life prior to issue overseas areas. Prior to

shipping frozen subsistence items with a recommended

(b) Condition. The recommended average

average life of 1E than 6 months, a careful inspection by

storage periods listed for frozen items are based on the

veterinary personnel should be made with a view toward

assumption that products delivered to the Government

assuring that there is sufficient storage life remaining to

were processed and procured in accordance with current

enable routine issue within the oversee command.

specifications and were in good condition at time of

delivery. Condition should be the deciding factor when

determining if an item is suitable for shipment to an

(g) Approximate storage life. Storage life the

overseas area. Exception to this rule is listed in (f)

total elapsed time from date of pack to date issue for

below. In no case should a product received in a

immediate consumption. The approximate storage life

thawed state be refrozen for storage. Thawing will

given in tables below is the best estimate of expected

reduce the average storage life of most frozen

life, based upon experience gained through subsistence

subsistence items below the desired economical storage

procured and stored accordance with the applicable

period.

specifications a regulations. Specific lots of subsistence

may be expected to show signs of quality loss within +

percent of the time listed. Therefore, procedure shall be

established to provide surveillance from time of receipt

the packages are important factors which influence

until the subsistence is issued a consumed. The

storage life expectancy. Example: packaging materials

frequency of inspection should established through

permeable to water vapor or which are defective will

actual experience with various products and as

permit dehydration by sublimation (freezer burn) or

prescribed in pertinent military publications.

other defects and materially detract from the quality and

appearance of the stored product. A program should be

Table 5-1. Storage Life of Frozen Subsistence

(0 . or Below)

See footnotes at the end of the table.

Approximate stor-

age life (months)

Apples ........................................................................................................................................................................

Apple juice, concentrated ...........................................................................................................................................

Asparagus ..................................................................................................................................................................

2,3

Bacon

slab, vacuum packed .............................................................................................................................................

sliced, nonvacuum pack .........................................................................................................................................

sliced, vacuum pack................................................................................................................................................

5-43