Food Safety and Economic Consequences of Cold Chain Disruption: A Case Study of Frozen Food Imports from France to Togo

Abstract

Aims: This study evaluates the microbiological, sensory, and economic repercussions of a documented 72-hour cold chain disruption affecting frozen food commodities imported from France to Togo. The primary objective was to validate a multi-integrated framework for post-incident risk assessment, capable of distinguishing between food safety compliance and commercial quality degradation, while accurately quantifying the resulting economic prejudice. Study Design: This work employs a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study design. Place and Duration of Study: The investigation was conducted at the Port of Lomé, the Laboratory of Biochemistry Applied to Nutrition and Food Sciences (University of Lomé), and the Institut National d’Hygiène (INH) in Lomé, Togo, between December 2024 and March 2025. Methodology: A shipment of 18,689 kg, subjected to a temperature excursion peaking at +2°C, significantly exceeding the international -18°C standard for frozen storage, was analyzed. A forensic evaluation was performed on 135 samples across five product categories. The methodology integrated: (1) continuous thermal traceability; (2) physical auditing for macroscopic deterioration; (3) microbiological screening for pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp.) in accordance with ISO 6579 and NF V08-059 standards; and (4) sensory profiling using a 70-member panel and ANOVA statistics. Results: Analysis revealed that while the products maintained 100% compliance with international microbiological safety standards, they failed critical quality specifications. Visual inspections identified macroscopic deterioration, including structural deformation and syneresis-related recrystallization, in 11.52% of the cargo mass (2,153.8 kg). Sensory evaluation demonstrated significant organoleptic failures; notably, Whole Camembert (250g) exhibited critical textural friability compared to controls (p < 0.05), rendering it commercially non-viable. The total economic prejudice was established at €25,749.11, representing 22.65% of the shipment's valuation. Crucially, auxiliary costs (logistics, expert appraisal, and destruction) effectively doubled the financial burden compared to the direct value of the physical product loss. Conclusion: The findings indicate that short-duration thermal excursions in tropical logistics hubs may not compromise microbiological safety but do induce critical physical and sensory degradation that necessitates total economic write-offs. This study underscores the vulnerability of the "last mile" in West African logistics and advocates for the implementation of resilient thermal monitoring and mandatory power supply protocols to mitigate systemic economic wastage.