Okuzeka
Food Science & Technology vocabulary · Shelf Life and Storage

FIFO

Meaning in food science & technology, with examples

/ˈfaɪfoʊ/abbreviationCommon term

In food science & technology, FIFO means: First in, first out: a stock rotation rule saying that the oldest stock received should be used or shipped first.

In Turkish: ilk giren ilk çıkar, FIFO

How it is used

Used in warehouses, kitchens and raw material stores. Many food companies prefer FEFO (first expired, first out), which ships the product with the nearest expiry date first. Clear labeling of pallets with receiving dates and batch codes makes FIFO possible, and auditors check it on warehouse walks.

Example sentences

  1. The old flour at the back of the store shows that we are not following FIFO.

  2. Our warehouse system works on FIFO for raw materials and FEFO for finished goods.

Common collocations

  • FEFO
  • stock rotation
  • follow FIFO
  • first in, first out
  • rotate stock
  • storage conditionsThe temperature, humidity, light and other conditions under which a food must be kept to stay safe and reach its stated shelf life.
  • shelf lifeThe length of time a food stays safe and keeps its expected quality when it is stored under the stated conditions.
  • batchA quantity of product made at one time, under the same conditions and from the same materials, so that it can be identified and traced as one unit.
  • traceabilityThe ability to follow a food and its ingredients through every stage of production, processing and distribution, one step back to the supplier and one step forward to the customer.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Shelf Life and Storage

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: