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Food Packaging
Food packaging is vital to not only attract customers but also to
provide safe and edible food to them. Food packaging is of utmost importance
- as food is health and health is wealth. Package is the facilitator.
Package is the means and vehicle that preserves and delivers the health to
wealth.
The main purpose of food packaging is to protect the food from microbial
and chemical contamination, oxygen, water vapor and light, promotion of
convenience and providing product information. The type of packaging used
therefore has an important role in determining the shelf life of a food. The
various packing concepts include, passive packaging, active packaging and
intelligent packaging.
Passive Packaging
Passive Packaging provides protection from external elements such as air
and moisture. This is a traditional packaging that involves the use of a
covering material, characterized by some inherent insulating, protective and
ease-of-handling qualities. The most common example of this type of
packaging is a simple plastic bag.
Active Packaging
Active Packaging actively changes the condition of the packaged food to
extend life or to improve safety and sensory properties, while maintaining
the quality of the packaged products.
Intelligent Packaging
Intelligent Packaging monitors the condition of packaged foods to give
information about the quality of the packaged food during transport and
storage.
Why
active and intelligent packaging?
With changes in the way food products are produced, distributed, stored and
retailed, reflecting the continuing increase in consumer demand for improved
quality and extended shelf life for packaged foods, are placing greater and
greater demands on the performance of food packaging. Considering these
aspects, innovative active and intelligent packaging concepts are being
developed to:
- Retain integrity and actively prevent food spoilage (shelf-life)
- Enhance product attributes (look, taste, flavor, aroma etc.,)
- Respond actively to changes in product or package
- Communicate product information, product history or condition to
user
- Assist with opening and indicate seal integrity
- Confirm product authenticity and act to counter theft
