>>Did you check it with a Max/Minimum thermometer over 24 hours? If you
>>did, you would get surprising results, but if you actually measure the
>>temperature of the food, instead of the air surrounding it, then it
>>would probably not be as bad as it seems.
>>
>
> I did both. The <1 degree was in air temperature in the centre of the
> cabinet with drawers reasonably full but not crammed

I would think you need to measure at the edge of the freezer, not the
center. It only warms up the perimeter.....