PACKAGING

Ag Processing

Early Packaging

Gourds Seashells Pottery Cloth Wood

Functions of the Package

Protection Communication between Processor and

Consumer Nutritional Information Ingredients Recipes

Marketing

Types of Containers

Primary Come in direct contact with the food

Secondary Outter box or wrap that holds several

secondary containers together Tertiary

Group several secondary holders into shipping units

Packing Materials and Forms Metal Plant matter (paper and wood) Glass Plastic

Cans

Formed at the food processing factory or shipped with bottoms attatched and separate lids

Lids are later seamed onto the cans

Can Make-Up

Outside protected from rust by a thin layer of tin (.025% by weight)

Inside is protected by a thin layer of tin or baked-on enamel

Tin-free steel and thermoplastic adhesive-bonded seams have become more common to do away with solder and possible traces of lead in food.

Tin is used due to its lightweight, low levels of rust, recyclability, and ease of shipping

Glass

Chemically inert Noncorrosive Recylable Reusable in the cases of home canning Downfalls

Breakable Recyling is not always easy

Paper

Must be treated, coated or laminated when used as a primary container

Paper that comes in contact with food must meet FDA standards for chemical purity

Paper used for milk cartons must come from sanitary virgin pulp

Major safety concern is papers puncturability that will allow for the outside environment to enter and contaminate the food

Plastics

Popular Copolymer plastics extend the range of

useful food packaging applications Ionomer plastic materials are improved

food-handling materials that function under greater oil, grease, solvent resistance, and have a higher melting strength

Newer plastic materials contain cornstarch to make them more biodegradable

Laminates

Made up of layers of different materials Typically in this order

1. Polyethylene 2. Polyethylene 3. Aluminum foil 4. Polyethylene 5. Paper 6. Polyethylene

Edible Films

Used in sausage casings, breakfast cereal raisins and nuts

Edible wax films are also used on fresh vegetables to reduce mouisture loss and provide resistance to the growth of molds

Packages with Special Features Freezable Microwavable Squeezable Aseptic packaging

Sterile liquids that once packaged do not require refrigeration like fruit juices

Military Rations

Packages with Special Features

Environmental Considerations Aluminum most recycled Plastic

Type of plastic is identified within the recycling logo by numbers 1-7 Example: 1 refers to PET the plastic used to

produce large 2-liter soda bottles Important in all parts of the packaing

industry due to environmental regulations

Environmental Considerations http://www.quantumbalancing.com/recycl

e.htm

Packaging Inovoations

More about convenience than costs Ready-Made-Meals Microwavable Security Consumer Quality Demands

Summary

Modern food packages have many functions Protection Transportation Communication with Consumers Marketing

Activity

Take a potato chip out of a package and describe what it looks, feels and sounds like when broken. Taste it, what does it taste like?

Let a potato chip set outside the packaging over the long weekend, when we return on Monday look at the chip and describe it again. What does it look, feel and sound like when broken? Taste it, what does it taste like?

Compare the results and relate the differences in the potato chip from when you took it out to a few days later, to its packaging.