What the work includes
The examination uses product samples, photographs, delivery documents, storage and transport conditions, labelling, packaging, records, claims and the questions asked.
- analysis of commercial condition, packaging, labelling and documents;
- assessment of signs of spoilage and loss of marketable appearance and consumer properties;
- determination of the value of goods, a batch, remaining stock or disputed products;
- checking the justification of an existing report;
- preparation of a report, expert report review or analytical position.
Typical questions
- what is the value of the food products as of a specific date;
- do the goods conform to the submitted documents and contract terms;
- are there signs of spoilage or loss of consumer properties;
- could storage or transport conditions have affected the condition of the goods;
- are the conclusions of a previous commodity examination justified.
Pricing
from RUB 45,000. The exact cost depends on the product type, batch size, number of questions, need for inspection and laboratory component.
Batch history from dispatch to discovery of changes
To assess the effects of storage, it is useful to have a chronological account of product movement: manufacture, dispatch, transport, acceptance, placement in the warehouse, subsequent movements and the point when changes were discovered. Documents, observations and known conditions are noted for each stage. If information is missing for part of the period, that gap is stated expressly rather than filled with an assumption that the required conditions were maintained.
A temperature record is assessed together with the sensor's location, logging period and connection to the specific cargo. A reading in a vehicle body, on a warehouse wall and inside a package describes different conditions. A single final photograph of a thermometer does not reconstruct the entire transport history. For analysis, it is advisable to keep the data logger's original file, time information and available information about the device.
Which events should be noted separately
- Loading and unloading, stops and transfer to another vehicle.
- Refrigeration equipment shutdowns and known changes to its settings.
- Container damage, opening, repackaging and division of the batch.
- Freezing, thawing or another change in the products' condition.
The list is used to compare possible explanations, rather than assign blame based on one event. Even an identified deviation from required conditions calls for an assessment of its duration and connection to the goods examined and observed changes. The ability to establish a specific mechanism of deterioration depends on preservation of the products and sufficient information for the relevant period.