Cargo Inspection Service carries out highly specialized cargo surveys of food and agricultural products to assess their condition, the cause and extent of damage. Sampling of cargoes is done according to international standards in order to guarantee statistically representative sampling procedures. We are able to take aseptic samples for microbiological analysis.

Also, we are in the capacity to carry out rapid field tests for grains (moisture, density, % damaged grain, infestation); fresh fruits and vegetables (pressure test, size, acidity, °Brix, ratio, salt, objective ripening tests); freshness of meats and shellfish enzyme activity; seawater contamination; packaging evaluation (including cans and hermetically sealed containers). Microbiological analyses (SPC, coliforms, mold and yeast count, specific microorganisms) and mycotoxins can be done in external facilities.

The surveys include refrigerated cargo and dehydrated products such as:

Green coffee, cocoa beans and cocoa products (liquor, powder, and butter).

Fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts: plantain, banana, mango, pineapple, melon, watermelon, papaya, citrus, tomato, avocado, onion, garlic, table and seed potato, apple, pear, plum, peach, nectarine, grape, kiwi, persimmon, cherries, strawberries, etc.

Bulk and packaged grain, oil-seeds and legumes: corn, wheat, sorghum, rice, barley, malt, oats, sesame seed, cottonseed, soybean, soybean meal, beans, etc.

Crude and processed fats and oils in bulk or packaged.

Refrigerated and frozen foods, including fruits and vegetables, fruit pulps, juices and concentrates; fresh and frozen foods of animal origin (meats, seafood, fish, shellfish, poultry and eggs).

Products carried or stored under modified atmosphere, controlled atmosphere or vacuum packed.

Dairy products: milk, dried milk, cheese, ice cream, fermented products and other dairy products.Other foods: wine, beer, spirits, pastries, candy, sugar, salt and processed foods.

Our firm has vast experience in the storage and ocean transportation of cereal grains, oil seeds, seed cake cargoes (soybean meal, corn gluten, pollard pellets, sunflower pellets and cottonseed meal), fish meal, fats, oils, as well as products such as coffee, cocoa beans, sugar, dry milk, fertilizers and chemicals.Our expertise includes the investigation of damage to products stored or transported in bulk, break-bulk or containerized, involving seawater, condensation, contamination, mycotoxins, infestation and spontaneous combustion, as well as damage to fertilizers, including reconditioning operations and determination of the critical moisture content to prevent caking during transportation and storage.We are able to determine the nature, extension and origin of damage during transportation of refrigerated cargo, and evaluate aspects such as optimal transportation temperature, packaging, ventilation, air circulation, fresh air exchange, stowage and palletizing patterns, modified and controlled atmospheres, as well as aspects related to the physical condition of containers and reefer system operation.Also, we have developed technical software to optimize container stuffing, calculate fresh air exchange, simulate the performance of reefer containers and estimate the product residual shelf-life consumed by temperature deviation in transit.We also supervise placement of seals in containers and ship holds, and cargo transfers.

Cargo Inspection Service offers inspection services of exportation and importation fresh and frozen foods, evaluating, analyzing and supervising the following aspects:

Product condition (ripening, presence of diseases, physiological disorders and defects in fruits and vegetables) according to statistical sampling methods.

• • Product temperature statistics at the moment of stuffing
  • Evaluation of packaging, palletizing, stowing and lashing in containers and their incidence in air flow within the unit
  • Revision of Quantity parameters: type, number of packages, weights and marks according to the packing list.
  • Stuffing log and facts including ambient temperature and air relative humidity
  • Inspection of containers (refrigerated and dry):
  • Review of the PTI (pre-trip inspection) and cargo labels
  • Container parameters (set point, defrost intervals, air exchange, relative humidity, composition of gases (controlled atmosphere units)
  • Preparation and cleaning
  • Check for infestation
  • Placement of seals
  • Physical evaluation of the unit In the case of imported products, we also analyze temperature and ventilation records in reefer containers.
    
    

    

    

    
    
    
    

We are independent consultants and cargo surveyors specializing on reefer transportation of foods and other agricultural products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and temperature sensitive products, in reefer containers and reefer compartments of vessels, carried under normal, modified or controlled atmosphere.Our service includes loading surveys for assessing product condition and quality parameters (including ripening stage, presence of diseases, disorders and defects in fruits and vegetables); evaluation of cargo temperature at the moment of loading or stuffing refrigerated cargo (frozen foods, fresh fruits and vegetables); and assessment of the condition of other temperature sensitive cargo.