Since the 1940s, wood pallets have been a staple of material handling, allowing for faster loading and unloading in combination with a forklift. However, the food industry has become cautious of wood pallets, and many manufacturers have switched them out in favor of plastic ones. Read on to learn why.
While wood pallets have their advantages, many people agree that they don’t have a place in the food industry. According to ABC News, this is because dangerous bacteria like E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella can grow in the wood. As ABC reports, 43% of wood pallets tested show positive traces of these bacteria.