Evolution Of Modern Food Packaging Techniques
For transporting food items from one place to the other, the food items need to be securely packaged. In the older days food items were difficult to be transported to faraway places due to their perishable nature. With the advancement of economic activities newer methods of packaging have been innovated with the help of food technologists, chemists, research scientists and people related to industries. In pretty old days food items used to be transported using common materials such as clay, cork and wood. Such was the story till the end of nineteenth century.
The twentieth century saw drastic changes in the materials of packaging. The old packaging materials got replaced by glass, papers and metals. Then came polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE). PETE revolutionized the food packaging industry. Its advantages PTTE poly bags are:
• PETE can be molded to any imaginable shapes and sizes
• PETE is inexpensive making it one of important economic food packaging
• PETE is light, saving in transportation costs
• Brand name, item description, company logo and other messages to the customers and the regulators can be conveniently printed on the PETE itself
But off late, use of plastic bags has been denounced by the green activists as these are harmful to the environment. PETE is non-perishable and toxic. Doubts have been expressed by biologists regarding safety of using PETE in food packaging as plastic has been found to be toxic as well as carcinogenic. Novel food packaging techniques and concepts have been developed to alleviate such notions. This new generation food packaging has enabled to enhance the shelf life of the food items. PETE has been greatly upgraded after the concept of packaging agent influencing the quality and life of the packaged food item became known.
What are expected of food packaging?
1. Protection from environmental abuses. Food items are required to be protected from water, vapor, moisture, dust, heat, sunlight, oxygen etc. Climate controlled ambience may be essential for many food items. The techniques such as vacuum packaging etc are done for dates and other fruits.
2. The food items will need protection from physical abuses during transportation and handling. The packaging has to take care of this.
3. The small packages will need to be packed in single package for ease in handling. This also saves shipment area and hence saves cost of shipment.
Types of food packaging
There are four types of food packaging namely primary, secondary, tertiary and special. Primary packaging is the basic package for holding the food item during processing. Numbers of primary packages are held together in the secondary package in single box wrapped completely. In the tertiary package all secondary packages are conglomerated in single pallet. There are special packaging containers using versatile technologies that are used for maximum durability, safety, security and protection.
There are full-fledged packaging services which cater to dedicated food packaging requirements of the industry. They are experts in the field of packaging and offer one stop solutions for all of your problems regarding packaging.
About The Author
Christina O’Leary is a professional beautician and has been practicing since a period of over 8 years. She is skilled at preservation of cosmetics for optimal use, and advocates that proper packaging and storage holds the key. She recommends www.southpack.com for all packaging solutions.
