Quality and quantity: How consistent food production depends on proper humidity

Why relative humidity matters in food production

Maintaining the correct relative air humidity level in a storage or drying facility for food items is critical. Most food items are hygroscopic – that is, their water content is dependent on the relative humidity in their surroundings. They will release water content to the surroundings, if the relative air humidity is too low.

Some food products need ripening at a specific rate and will spoil easily if humidity fluctuates too much. Other food stuffs such as meat, cheese etc. must be kept at a very precise humidity level at all times – or the net weight and value of the end product will decrease.

Control of relative air humidity is therefore critical in food production.

Low relative air humidity can cause products to release humidity to the surrounding environment, which makes them lose net weight and – with it – sales value.

A product that has undergone desiccation may easily become destroyed and must be discarded, resulting in a financial loss for the producer.

Cutting down the angels’ share

The Angel’s Share is the common term used for the evaporation of wine and spirits during storage and maturation. However, it’s a loss that the winemaker would like to prevent, if possible.

In wine storage facilities where wood barrels are used, evaporation can be controlled with the right humidity level in the storage area. This prevents the barrels from contracting and expanding and reduces the potential gaps that evaporation can pass through. In long-time storage of bottled products, the right air humidity can prevent corks from drying out, spoiling the wine, and will also keep labels and boxes intact.

A recent study has shown that as much as 2% of all whisky produced in Scotland disappears as the angels’ share – the equivalent of 440,000 barrels of whisky. Even a small reduction of this amount can have enormous financial impact – and maintaining a higher air humidity level by the application of an air humidifying system is the simple answer.