Keeping Foods Cold Is Easier and Simpler in the Combi Cold Carrier

The Combi Cold Carrier boasts of many good intentions. Of these, promoting food safety is No. 1. An insulated tote, the Combi can keep cold and frozen foods cold and frozen for hours.

Nothing more than a lightweight silver plastic bag measuring 19x16 inches, the soft-folding “ice chest” needs no ice when transporting frozen foods or very cold foods since cold air is locked in the bag. Effective thermal insulation is made possible by the bag’s double layering of specially treated polyethylene with an intermediate layer of bonded polyester.

Developed in Denmark around 1980, the Combi is now sold in supermarkets and drugstores all over Europe and in major countries of the world. European tourists use it to take home American steaks on flights from the United States. Professional photographers keep their films cold in the carrier; fishermen carry it for their fresh catch; picnickers use it to keep wines and cheeses at desired temperatures.

And for the shopper who hops from one store to the other, Combi protects perishable cold foods from perishing. Today’s frozen and cold foods are manufactured with emphasis on quality, but improper handling on the part of the consumer can lower that quality. As soon as they leave the supermarket cases, dairy, meat or poultry products lose some shelf life if the proper storage temperature is not maintained. Some people use ice chests, but the less bulky Combi is more handy and convenient to keep in one’s car at all times.

Although no ice is needed in the bag for transporting frozen foods for a certain number of hours, using blue ice or commercial cold bricks works even better. Placing the bag in the freezer for about two hours to absorb the cold also helps. Any of these measures is also recommended when toting perishable fresh meats, cooked foods and non-cold drinks. Weighing only four ounces, the bag can carry a full case of loose 12-ounce cold drink cans.

The Combi supposedly also keeps hot foods hot but only for a very short time. Its seal allows heat to escape more quickly than cold air, which gets trapped inside to keep cold foods cold.

The Combi is also waterproof. After using it for transporting foods to the beach, some people take advantage of the waterproof bag to carry their wet bathing things home.

The Le Bar from Omni Marketing is also an interesting item for those interested in keeping cold food cold. This new portable salad bar or all-purpose food and drink bar is designed to serve cold items on a bed of ice. Ideal for patio parties, picnics and any indoor or outdoor receptions, Le Bar is versatile.

A knockdown concept, the free-standing bar can be assembled and disassembled for storage in a matter of minutes. Sturdy heavy-duty beige plastic panels easily screw onto the serving ice table board, then a sneeze guard made of prettily decorated clear heavy Plexiglas is inserted into the table.

The serving table has the capacity to hold 80 pounds of ice and about 100 pounds of food in containers. To drain the water from the ice, a drain outlet is provided for quick cleanup. Since the bar can easily be disengaged for storing, the manufacturer advises not to leave it outdoors to prevent any damage caused by a hot climate. A small separate compartment provides a dry space to store utensils and napkins.

According to Le Bar’s creator, Matt Berenda, who has had many years of experience in plastic manufacturing, what started as a salad bar idea for the home has quickly developed into other food entertaining ideas. The bar can be turned into a pizza bar, a tostada or taco bar, a soup bar, a buffet server for cold desserts, a stuffed potato bar or an ice cream sundae bar, he said.

The Combi Cold Carrier has a suggested retail price of $4.99 and is available at most Safeway and selected Alpha Beta stores. For more information, call the distributor, Food Fantasia International, at (714) 497-1370.

Le Bar is available through mail and phone order. Send check or money order for $159.95 plus corresponding state tax and $15 shipping cost to P.O. Box 1245, Paramount, Calif. 90723. A white skirt for $20 is also available. For phone orders, call (714) 535-2202 (direct) or (213) 634-9420 (answering service).