Proper food packaging is vital to great tasting and healthy food. Proper packaging is like armor for food. If the food is properly packaged, it will protect the state and quality of the food and prevent it from getting tampered with. It's important that you understand not only why packaging food is important but properly package the food. Unfortunately there is not one clear packaging option. Food packaging depends on the type of food, its size, and whether or not it's refrigerated or frozen. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Objectives
Food packaging has several primary objectives. The biggest purpose is the physical protection of the food. Physical protection provides support from shock, vibration, compression, temperature, or other factors that may ruin or reduce the quality of the food. Food packaging also provides barrier protection so oxygen, water vapor, dust or chemicals remain outside the package. Food packaging provides containment or agglomeration, so small items are grouped together in one package or powders and minute materials are contained. Last but not least, packaging provides a space to post nutritional labels as well as marketing information such as name of product, brand and price.
Longevity
One of the primary goals of food packaging is to extend the "shelf life" of the food. Some foods have a much longer shelf life than others. For example, canned goods and freeze-dried products have the longest shelf life, often lasting years on end. Other products will go bad quickly, especially when the original package is opened. In order to prevent the food from going bad, consumers must repackage the food or freeze it.
Health Factors
Food packaging provides barrier protection to not only keep the product fresh, but also safe. Some products, for example, contain desiccants or oxygen absorbers to help extend shelf life. Modified atmospheres or controlled atmospheres are also maintained in some food packages. The importance of food packaging essentially creates a fake piece of armor that prevents harmful bacteria or other diseases from corrupting the food. Some products, like meat, may not even be removed from their original packaging but will still go bad because they were not kept in the correct temperature or environment. It's important to understand where to store the product not only before the packaging is opened, but also after it's opened because some types of foods have different needs.
Types of Packaging
Several materials are used either alone or in combination with other materials to provide proper food packaging. Aseptic processings help protect whole eggs while cartons provide protection for a batch of eggs. Plastic trays may protect fish or meats in combination with plastic wrap. Bags preserve and protect chips, crackers, and even salads while cans package soup, fruit and vegetables.
Facts and Impact
Did you know food packaging is a $110 billion per year industry? Food packaging is the third-largest industry in the United States. An estimated 350 billion packages exist on U.S. store shelves alone. While most types of packaging are necessary to provide proper health and protection for food products, many environmentalists are attempting to find ways to save on paper, plastic and other materials used for food packaging. Consumers may do their part by recycling packaging products (such as aluminum, glass and plastic) instead of throwing them in the trash.
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