Causes of changes in commercial condition
The cause is established from the combination of factual signs, documents and handling conditions for the specific batch, rather than from the name of the defect.
Factors analysed
Failure to maintain required temperatures
a deviation in storage or transport temperature from the conditions specified for the particular products
Learn more →factorAdverse humidity
excessively high or low ambient humidity and its possible effect on packaging and commercial condition
Learn more →factorRefreezing and thawing
a break in cold chain continuity, assessed only when a combination of signs and source data is available
Learn more →factorTransport conditions
temperature, duration, cargo placement, mechanical impacts and documented transport conditions
Learn more →factorWarehouse storage conditions
duration, temperature, humidity, placement and other documentable conditions of the goods' time in the warehouse
Learn more →factorLoss of packaging integrity
loss of the packaging's protective properties due to damage, opening or other impacts
Learn more →factorLight exposure
prolonged or intense light exposure as one factor affecting certain types of products
Learn more →factorMechanical impact
impacts, pressure, falls, compression and other physical effects on goods or packaging
Learn more →factorStorage duration
the effect of the actual storage period combined with handling conditions and product properties
Learn more →factorStorage alongside other goods
storing products together and the possible effects of odours, humidity or other factors, where factual data is available
Learn more →factorDelayed acceptance or processing of a batch
an increase in the time between delivery, unloading, acceptance and placement of the goods in the required conditions
Learn more →factorImproper loading and stacking
excess pressure, packaging deformation and other effects of batch placement
Learn more →factorA break in the cold chain
a period in which chilled or frozen products were outside the required temperature conditions, if supported by data
Learn more →factorInconsistency between documents and the actual batch
discrepancies in dates, quantity, labelling, batch or handling conditions that affect the ability to reconstruct events reliably
Learn more →How a conclusion about the cause is reached
The chronology of events, product type, packaging, storage and transport conditions, measurement data, photographs, records and the nature of the changes identified are compared. If assessing causation requires a specialist laboratory parameter, a commodity expert's assumption cannot replace it.
Not every cause can be established
Where source data is missing, the expert may state that an unequivocal conclusion is impossible or identify several compatible scenarios. This is preferable to a definitive conclusion without an evidentiary basis.