The main reason for recommending "do not re-freeze", is to avoid
the risk that some consumers may use inappropriate thawing methods, e.g.
thawing at room temperature for too long a time, or letting the thawed food
get too warm before refreezing is started.
Our recommendations
Purchase a fridge thermometer, these are widely available from retailers.
Check the temperature of your freezer. Is it operating at -18°C or below? If
not, turn the refrigeration unit up if possible.
If foods are still frozen and have not softened, turn the freezer to its
maximum setting for 24 hours, before restoring to a setting which maintains a
temperature of -18°C. Our products should be delivered at or below 0 C,, there
should still be Ice in the box, and in tests we have conducted the
temperature inside the boxes remains at that temperature for over 36 hours.
Fresh Fish actually freezes at -1.7°C, so at 0°C in our boxes it may
have softened slightly but will be fine if you put it straight into your
freezer.
Put in the freezer as soon as possible. 'Don't wait...Refrigerate'
If foods have thawed but are still colder than 4°C store them at the bottom
of a refrigerator and use within 24 hours. Once fully cooked many foods can
be frozen to be used within one month.
Bacteria, some of which cause food poisoning, cannot grow at freezer
temperatures, but freezing DOES NOT kill them. Fish, other than the filter
feeding shellfish such as Oysters and Mussels, do not contain any bacteria
harmful to humans.
Don't forget eventually even well-frozen food will deteriorate and become
unpalatable whilst still remaining safe to eat, so don't leave it in the
freezer indefinitely.
