Educational

usp659 packaging and storage requirements

What Is the Significance of USP659, and How Does It Impact Storage and Distribution?

What is USP659? The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that originated in 1820. The mandate of this organization is to develop standards for quality, purity, identity, and strength for medicines, food, and health. The standards are enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and given the independent status of …

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temperatures at which phases change

Top 4 Myths About Phase Changes (As They Relate to Gel Packs and PCMs)

Time to unlearn what you thought you knew about phase changes and packaging materials, like PCMs and gel packs Did you know there is a difference between heat and temperature? They are connected, but not the same thing. In general, misconceptions like these result from people creating their explanations for how the world works. These …

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shipping cheese: what is a gouda temperature and how to protect it during shipping

Shipping Cheese: What is a Gouda Temperature and How to Protect it During Shipping

As old as modern mankind, cheese has hints of its existence dating back to 8,000 BC when the first animals were domesticated. Surviving records indicate our ancestors used animal skins and inflated internal organs as storage vessels for milk, and therefore the first cheese was likely serendipitously discovered. This method of storage brought milk into …

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people in lab coats showing possible ista labbs are adequately equipped and maintained to conduct ista package performance testing - packaging design and qualification testing

ISTA Thermal Testing Standards for Cold Chain Packaging and Shipping

A break in the cold chain has several risk factors. None are acceptable when shipping food or pharmaceuticals: microbial growth, reduction of the product’s shelf life, or decrease in the strength or efficacy of medications. These can bring an entire series of health-related risks. During the cold chain shipping process, stress can damage the packaging …

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The Sweet Truth About Temperature Controlled Shipping of Chocolate

Ah, chocolate. Two thousand years before Willie Wonka, it was the food of the gods. Chocolate today is no longer for deities and has transformed from an unsweetened cocoa drink made from ground beans to everyday foods and designer chocolate bars. A lot has changed since the original cocoa plant became a domesticated delicacy for …

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cooler with gel packs

Top 10 questions asked about bulk gel packs for food and pharmaceuticals

We’ve all used coolers to keep our food and drinks cold when refrigeration is not available. However, many goods such as food, pharmaceuticals, wine, and other temperature-sensitive items need to be shipped and stored at a consistent temperature, sometimes for long periods of time. Most are made of a refrigerant and plastic material, and each …

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Applying ISTA PCG-02 Passive Thermal Packaging System OQ Best Practice Guidelines

In 1785 milkmen began delivering milk in reusable jugs, pails, and jars. The first reusable packaging, perhaps? Over the last 236 years, the idea is the same: deliver your product in the condition and temperature you require. For some time, consumers and corporations alike have used both disposable and reusable thermal packaging to regulate the …

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