# FIFO stock rotation in cold storage

*Last updated: 2026-06-24*

> When perishable goods enter cold storage, the FIFO rule – First In, First Out – governs the pick sequence: the earliest-received lot must leave the facility before any newer stock, preventing silent ageing past the expiry date.

When perishable goods enter cold storage, the FIFO rule – First In, First Out – governs the pick sequence: the earliest-received lot must leave the facility before any newer stock, preventing silent ageing past the expiry date. Warehouses enforce this through drive-through racking systems, zoned storage layouts, or warehouse management systems that automatically surface the oldest batch at pick time. For food and pharmaceutical products, documented FIFO rotation is frequently a legal requirement under HACCP or Good Distribution Practice (GDP). A clean FIFO audit trail is also essential for rapid batch isolation in a recall scenario. FIFO is not to be confused with LIFO (Last In, First Out), which is unsuitable for temperature-sensitive goods subject to shelf-life regulations.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-in,_first-out](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-in,_first-out)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | FIFO stock rotation in cold storage |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 118 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-24 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-in,_first-out |

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