Woking, England-headquartered Nomad Foods announced on September 28 that its research paper, “Increasing Storage Temperature of Frozen Foods: Effect on Sustainability and Food Quality,” has been peer reviewed and published in npj Science of Food, a leading journal in the Nature portfolio.
The study provides evidence that frozen foods can be safely stored at -15°C, compared with the long-established industry standard of -18°C, while maintaining product quality and reducing energy consumption by approximately 7%. The findings strengthen the scientific case for a more sustainable approach to frozen food storage and distribution.
Conducted over 18 months, the research evaluated nine frozen food categories and generated more than 20,000 quality measurements. The study found that, for most products tested, storage at -15°C maintained food safety, quality, nutritional value and shelf life within accepted limits. The peer-reviewed publication adds independent scientific validation to industry efforts to reduce carbon emissions across temperature-controlled supply chains. In June of 2024, Nomad Foods became the first food manufacturer to join The Move to -15°C coalition – a global initiative dedicated to cutting carbon emissions in the frozen food supply chain.
Neil Fletcher, general counsel at Nomad Foods and board member of The Move to -15°C coalition, stated: “The publication of our research in a peer-reviewed journal is an important milestone for both Nomad Foods and the frozen food industry. Our findings demonstrate that it is possible to reduce energy consumption across the cold chain while maintaining the safety and quality consumers expect from frozen food. We believe this research will help inform industry discussions and support more sustainable practices across temperature-controlled supply chains.”
Nomad Foods’ commitment to sustainability extends beyond frozen food storage. In 2023, the company published a life cycle assessment showing that many of its most popular frozen products have an equivalent or lower carbon footprint than comparable foods preserved using alternative methods. In 2026, Nomad Foods was also named in the Dow Jones Best in Class Index Europe for the fifth consecutive year, ranking among the top performing European food companies for sustainability.
The paper can be accessed online at: npj Science of Food
