FIFO Food Storage: A Complete Implementation Guide

FIFO—First In, First Out—is the foundational principle of food storage rotation. Older stock used before newer stock. Simple concept. Surprisingly hard to maintain consistently.

Why FIFO Matters

Without FIFO:

• Newer stock gets used while older expires
• Spoilage waste increases
• Quality decreases (using older items)
• Food safety risk increases

With FIFO:

• Stock turns over properly
• Minimal spoilage waste
• Consistent quality
• Food safety maintained

Implementation Fundamentals

Clear dating: Every item labelled with date received (and use-by if different)

Systematic placement: New stock goes behind/below existing. Old stock to front/top.

Regular rotation: Staff trained to pull from front/top first.

Inspection: Regular checks that rotation is happening correctly.

Common Failure Modes

Receiving shortcuts: Deliveries put wherever there's space, not behind existing stock.

Busy service: During rush, staff grab whatever's easiest, not oldest.

Poor visibility: Items hidden or hard to see aren't rotated.

Inadequate labelling: Missing or unclear dates mean rotation can't happen properly.

No accountability: Nobody owns rotation; nobody checks it.

Physical Setup

Design storage to support FIFO:

• Clear sight lines: Can see all items easily
• Accessible arrangement: Front items reachable without moving others
• Standardised containers: Consistent sizes stack properly
• Proper shelving: Strong enough for weight, sized for containers
• Good lighting: Can read dates easily

Labelling Systems

Handwritten dates: Simple, cheap, prone to illegibility Printed labels: Cleaner, requires label printer Day dots: Colour-coded by day, visual and fast Digital tracking: Scanning system, most sophisticated

Choose based on your operation size and capability.

Training and Culture

FIFO works when it's habit:

• Initial training for all staff
• Regular reinforcement
• Manager modelling correct behaviour
• Recognition for good practice
• Correction of mistakes immediately

Monitoring Compliance

Spot checks: Random inspection of rotation Spoilage tracking: High spoilage indicates FIFO failure Mystery audits: Periodic full assessment Waste analysis: What's expiring suggests rotation issues

Learn about storage and waste management as part of comprehensive waste reduction.