Security seals for airline in-flight catering

Importance of Security Seals in Airline Catering

In the passenger air transport sector, security seals for catering offered on board the aircraft are of particular importance: they are used to check the integrity of food throughout the supply chain, from production to distribution on board. In fact, they guarantee both the identification and the non-manipulation of the on-board lockers in which the food served is stored.

Normally, all catering security seals ensure identification by means of a unique serial number and possibly also a barcode, which are indelibly marked on the seal. The number of the seal must correspond to the number on the documents accompanying the relevant food trolley. If not, then there may have been tampering.

Catering security seals are designed to be irreversibly damaged if someone tries to tamper with them. In this way, those responsible for the distribution of drinks and food have immediate evidence of tampering and can promptly block the service, to protect passengers from any risk of contamination.

Why Use Security Seals in Airline Catering?

It is imperative to use security seals for air catering for the following reasons:

• HYGIENE: The handling of food presented on board must respect the cold chain in order to avoid the presence and proliferation of microorganisms. The security seals protect against unauthorized manipulation at all times.
• CUSTOMS: All products and food that are placed in catering trolleys must be declared to the competent authorities. Even if not for tax reasons, they still need to be registered for possible more in-depth checking. Catering security seals offer valuable support to this activity.
• SAFETY: It is very important to carry out quality and safety checks on all food before it is loaded on board. There is a food safety regulation established by IATA to ensure the safety of passengers when serving food and drinks.

Control Procedures for Airline Catering Safety

It is extremely important to activate quality control procedures even during the flight, especially if it is a long-duration flight. You also need to have a contingency plan in case of food poisoning. This plan must identify and isolate suspect foods and at the same time offer medical assistance to passengers. The use of sealed and documented catering provides airlines with strong legal protection, allowing the problem to be quickly identified in the event of a possible lack of food safety. Finally, the seals offer serious theft prevention as the trolleys not only transport food and drinks but also valuable products that are sold duty free on board.

The Added Value of Security Seals

• Hygiene and food safety: Storage and distribution procedures must comply with HACCP and IATA guidelines.
• Temperature control: Meals must be stored and delivered at the appropriate temperature.
• Punctuality: The catering service must be in sync with the flight management.

Types of Seals for Air Catering

• Padlock type seals with metal wire
• Plastic padlock type seals
• Adjustable plastic seals
• Progressively numbered adhesive label seals (VOID)
• Electronic locking
• Food Allergy Labels

Padlock type seals completely made of 100% recyclable plastic

Calaide seal: CALAIDE SEAL plastic padlock seals can be used in all those situations where space is really small. These padlock seals are very suitable for airlines and for Duty Free trolleys. The CALAIDE SEAL is among the most secure padlock seals on the market. Their tensile strength is about 3.5 kg. It is 100% recyclable and are made in six standard colors: white, red, green, blue, yellow, orange.

Hepha seal: The HEPHA SEAL is a 100% recyclable plastic seal. The free movement of the locking mechanism prevents sticking and allows the integrity of padlock seals to be easily checked. It is applied with simple finger pressure and requires no mechanical tools to remove. They are made in six standard colors: white, red, green, light blue, yellow, orange. Laser printed with customer’s name or logo for clear identification. Barcode for fast, accurate and reliable data collection, streamlining operations.

Zete seal: LeghornGroup offers a wide range of seal solutions in the airline and airline catering industry. The Zete seal padlock is among the cheapest on the market. It is very easy to apply and very easy to remove. It can be broken without abrasion to the fingers or broken nails. These air catering seals are 100% recyclable. They are made in six standard colors: white, red, green, light blue, yellow, orange.

Aba seal 3×195 mm: The ABA SEAL 3×195 mm air catering seals from LeghornGroup are made of 100% recyclable plastic. Very easy to use, they are self-locking and can be removed very easily without the use of cutting tools; they are made with a side pre-cutting system. It does not damage your fingers in any way and you do not run the risk of breaking your nails. Made in six standard colors: white, red, green, light blue, yellow, orange. Laser printed with customer’s name or logo for clear identification.

Twiggy seal 2.2×190 mm: The TWIGGY SEAL for air catering made by LeghornGroup is a 100% recyclable plastic seal. Very easy to use, it is self-locking and can be removed very easily without the use of cutting tools. It does not damage your fingers in any way and you do not run the risk of breaking your nails. Made in six standard colors: white, red, green, light blue, yellow, orange. Laser printed with customer’s name or logo for clear identification.

Ink-releasing “VOID” adhesive labels

LeghornGroup VOID security labels protect against unauthorized removal. To use the label, remove a LeghornGroup VOID LABEL from the box and apply the void security label to the smooth or rough surface. Once the LeghornGroup VOID LABEL is removed, both the label and the surface will display an ‘Open message’ indicating unauthorized access.

These labels are sold in any size and are all numbered. They provide maximum security on tampering or removal by leaving a permanent trace of sealing. They can be used in any situation where safety is a high priority.

“VOID” adhesive labels WITHOUT ink release

Void tamper-evident labels without residue are made with a special adhesive that leaves no residue when the labels are removed. On the removed surface of the labels the words “VOID OPEN” will be repeated while on the surface that was covered no message remains. Once void labels with no residue are removed, they can no longer be reused. An additional level of security is given by a “no residue void label” with double numbering in order to match the void label without residue on the control register. Tamper-evident VOID labels are the best choice for controlling access to aircraft doors when aircraft are parked or in storage. They can also be used for catering trolleys, inspection panels, hatches, duty-free packages, boxes and luggage, life jackets.

Electronic Lock “Spylock”

SPYLOCK is a new generation reusable electronic seal, specifically designed for greater security in the logistics chain. It combines the functionality of mechanical security closure with the information capacity of an advanced electronic seal that allows accurate monitoring of the status of the goods handled.

• Record any access to the transported goods or stored: opening, closing, or tampering. (device ID, event type, date and time).
• This electronic seal has a long battery life, operational thanks to a rechargeable battery via USB and long lasting.
• Recording the position of opening/closing/tampering events on the device is a function that is not currently available but can be done on demand. Terms and conditions to be discussed and agreed with the customer.

Security and Compliance: Food Allergy Labels

Food safety in in-flight catering is a multifaceted system that prioritizes safety through strict hygiene, temperature control, ingredient traceability and compliance with global standards such as HACCP.

Allergen Information: A clear warning about common allergens such as nuts, dairy products, gluten and shellfish is essential, possibly using universal symbols or colors.

LeghornGroup’s Fields of Action

• PROTECTION: We protect your assets with security seals and all types of tamper-evident products. We are able to create customized technical solutions for any specific customer needs.
• CONTROL: We ensure the control of goods and people through security products and complete integrated hardware and software solutions, with the possibility of monitoring and intervention in real time and in mobile conditions.
• IDENTIFICATION: We offer product solutions and services that employ innovative technologies to uniquely identify objects, animals, vehicles and people, ensuring their safety. We have specific expertise in product authentication solutions.
• RFID SOLUTIONS: LeghornGroup also manufactures solutions for product authentication; automatic identification systems that use RFID technology to facilitate the traceability of objects, animals and people, offering new and efficient operations to accelerate the supply chain.
• TRACEABILITY: We track any asset, animal or human being thanks to our advanced devices, giving the possibility of real-time access to all the information that allows you to monitor the location, status and movement of goods and people.