Wooden Foodservice Shelving: Friend or Foe?

Wooden shelving. If you have it, you may not think twice about it or even know how long it’s been there, especially if you're only using it in dry storage. It may seem harmless and sturdy, but even if it doesn’t seem to be causing any problems, it may not be helping either.

The following four questions can help you assess how your wooden shelving is affecting your food storage and kitchen operations.

1.     Is your team able to keep your food storage areas clean and sanitary?

Coated or painted wood tends to peel or chip over time, especially with heavy use, regular cleaning, and friction from items like #10 cans. 

One employee may overzealously scrub the paint off in an attempt to keep shelves clean, while another may clean too gently so they don’t damage it. Others may skip it entirely because it’s too much work, and it looks the same whether they do it or not. Unfortunately, if the paint or coating is chipping or peeling, there's no telling where it will end up.

 

2.     Has your health inspector said your wooden shelving needs to go?

Louisiana and Mississippi health codes, for example, don’t specifically prohibit wooden shelving. They do, however, enforce the federal (FDA 2017) requirement that “Non-Food Contact Surfaces of equipment that are exposed to splash, spillage, or other food soiling or that require frequent cleaning shall be constructed of a corrosion-resistant, non-absorbent, and smooth material.” 

We have been hearing from an increasing number of our friends in child nutrition that their local health inspectors want them to remove wooden shelving from all food storage areas. They believe it falls short of the above criteria since wood can rot (especially in storage areas prone to water intrusion), insects can penetrate the surface, and paint or coatings can scrape, peel, or chip off.

 

3.     Is it restricting your ability to keep organized or try new things?

Food products, product packaging, food storage containers, disposable ware cartons, and menus vary. Some may change dramatically over time. 

Are fixed shelf heights getting in the way of new, larger items or wasting vertical space because they’re too far apart?

 

4.     Is some of your storage space inaccessible?

If shelving doesn’t extend into corners or posts block corner access, valuable storage space can be lost or difficult to get to. 

Would corner shelving or an additional shelf provide better use of space and easier access? 

Would deeper shelves be more suitable for the items you use now?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, especially #2, it’s probably time to look for shelving that is more hygienic and better able to adapt to your operation’s changing needs.

Epoxy Coated Wire shelving in green, gray, and black; Wire/Polymer Mat Hybrid Shelving; and Polymer Millenia Shelving by Quantum Foodservice all provide hygienic, adjustable, and durable alternatives to wooden shelving. 

Corner Shelving Units, wall shelves and grids, and specialty items such as rolling can racks can all help you improve space utilization and inventory management.  

Whatever the application and the budget, Quantum Foodservice has a strong, hygienic, quick-shipping shelving system to meet the need. We can review your storage needs with you to help you identify the right product for each of your storage applications and your budget. 

We can even assist with measuring your storage areas and working with Quantum’s Expert Shelving Consultants to get a complimentary layout to optimize your space.

Contact us!