The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has begun talks with the UK government about the possibility of increasing the frozen food storage temperature in an attempt to reduce the food industry’s environmental impact.

BFFF Director General Brian Young recently opened preliminary discussions with DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Food Minister Lord Rooker. As one of the major energy users, the food industry is coming under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact. The BFFF claims that a higher temperature for storage would greatly reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Current food safety regulations state that frozen food must be stored at -18°C or below. The BFFF is seeking to raise this to -15°C.

Speaking at the Federation's annual luncheon, President Stephen Waugh called for radical thinking to effect carbon reductions. "The best example I can give is the absolute necessity to deliver products at -18ºC even though we know that food is safe at -5ºC and that, excepting ice cream, preserving quality generally is achieved at around -11ºC. How much carbon do we use freezing, storing and delivering product just to avoid ever having a load rejected because of temperature?" he asked. According to ACR News, the BFFF maintains that although microbial growth stops below -5°C, it is common practice for frozen foods to be stored at temperatures as low as -25°C.