top of page

What is food packaging?

Packaging has been defined in many ways: Packaging is the art, science and technology of preparing products for market. It is also can be defined as a product made from any material such as paper, glass, plastic, aluminum and wood that is used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods from raw to processed goods.


Packaging ensures safe delivery of the product to the ultimate consumer in good condition at minimal overall cost. It is a system capable of containing the goods that it remains safe and efficacious within its shelf life. Packaging must protect what it sells and sell what it protects. Physical damage and chemical deterioration from mechanical and climatic hazards, as well as changes caused by microorganism must be prevented. Packaging is a techno-economic function aimed at minimizing costs of delivery while maximizing sales. It providing presentation, identification, information and convenience for the product from the moment of production until it is used or administrated.


Functions of food packaging:

Packaging has several objectives:[1]

  • Physical protection - The food enclosed in the package may require protection from, among other things, shock, vibration, compression, temperature, bacteria, etc.

  • Barrier protection - A barrier from oxygen, water vapor, dust, etc., is often required. Permeation is a critical factor in design. Some packages contain desiccants or oxygen absorbers to help extend shelf life. Modified atmospheres or controlled atmospheres are also maintained in some food packages. Keeping the contents clean, fresh, and safe for the intended shelf life is a primary function.

  • Containment or agglomeration - Small items are typically grouped together in one package to allow efficient handling. Liquids, powders, and granular materials need containment.

  • Information transmission - Packages and labels communicate how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose of the package or product. Some types of information are required by governments.

  • Marketing - The packaging and labels can be used by marketers to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product. Package design has been an important and constantly evolving phenomenon for several decades. Marketing communications and graphic design are applied to the surface of the package and (in many cases) the point of sale display.

  • Security - Packaging can play an important role in reducing the security risks of shipment. Packages can be made with improved tamper resistance to deter tampering and also can have tamper-evident features to help indicate tampering. Packages can be engineered to help reduce the risks of package pilferage; some package constructions are more resistant to pilferage and some have pilfer-indicating seals. Packages may include authentication seals to help indicate that the package and contents are not counterfeit. Packages also can include anti-theft devices, such as dye packs, RFID tags, or electronic article surveillance tags, that can be activated or detected by devices at exit points and require specialized tools to deactivate. Using packaging in this way is a means of retail loss prevention.

  • Convenience - Packages can have features which add convenience in distribution, handling, stacking, display, sale, opening, reclosing, use, and reuse.

  • Portion control - Single-serving packaging has a precise amount of contents to control usage. Bulk commodities (such as salt) can be divided into packages that are a more suitable size for individual households. It also aids the control of inventory: selling sealed one-liter bottles of milk, rather than having people bring their own bottles to fill themselves.

Food packaging Type:

Packaging Type Type of Container Example

Aseptic processing Primary Liquid whole eggs

Trays Primary Portion of fish or meat

Bags Primary Potato chips, apples, rice

Boxes Secondary Corrugated box of primary packages: box

of cereal cartons

Cans Primary Can of tomato soup

Cartons Primary Carton of eggs

Flexible packaging Primary Bagged salad

Pallets Tertiary A series of boxes on a single pallet used to

transport from the manufacturing plant to a

distribution center

Wrappers Tertiary Used to wrap the boxes on the pallet for

transport

Source:

- Dr. Buntong Borarin, Postharvest technology of Faculty of Agro-Industry, Royal Univesity of Agriculture, Cambodia

- Hans-Jürgen Bässler und Frank Lehmann : Containment Technology: Progress in the Pharmaceutical and Food Processing Industry. Springer, Berlin 2013, ISBN 978-3642392917

- Heldman, D.R. ed (2003). "Encyclopedia of Agricultural, Food, and Biological Engineering". New York: Marcel Dekker

- Potter, N.N. and J.H. Hotchkiss. (1995). "Food Science", Fifth Edition.New York: Chapman & Hall. pp. 478–513.

- Robertson, G. L. (2013). "Food Packaging: Principles & Practice". CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4398-6241-4

- Selke, S, (1994). "Packaging and the Environment". ISBN 1-56676-104-2

- Selke, S, (2004) "Plastics Packaging", ISBN 1-56990-372-7

- Soroka, W. (2009). "Fundamentals of Packaging Technology". Institute of Packaging Professionals. ISBN 1-930268-28-9

- Stillwell, E. J, (1991) "Packaging for the Environment", A. D. Little, 1991, ISBN 0-8144-5074-1

- Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-08704-6




Featured Posts:
Recent Posts:
bottom of page