The food industry utilizes over hundreds of packaging materials and the four basic packaging materials are Metal, Plant matter( paper and Pulp), glass and Plastic

In some cases these materials are combined to give a suitable package

Food Cans

Cans are made of tinplate (tin-coated steel) but may also be made of aluminium or other metals.

The inside of the can is often sheet coated with lacquers to prevent the cans rusting and reacting with the contents, especially acidic foods.

Seafood, Meats, Vegetables, Fruits, Dry Goods, Beverages etc

Food Cans

PaperboardBoard used for food packaging is often

treated and coated with a wax of polythene to improve water strength, gas impermeability, tear resistance etc

Examples include bags for confectionery, pizza boxes, bread wrap, chocolate interleaving, frozen food containers, vegetable boxes, sugar bags, beverage cartons and food service boards.

Paperboard

Aluminium Foil High grade aluminium foil packaging are

temperature and moisture resistant.

They are excellent for preventing heating and cooling losses.

It completely blocks odour and moisture, thus, preventing the original trait. 

Foil trays are suitable for both freezing and heating in conventional ovens

Aluminium Foil

Plastic MaterialFood packaging uses a wide range of both rigid

and flexible plastic materials including:

• Polythene – low density , is used as a film wrapping, resistant to water. High density , is used for packaging such as milk jugs, detergent bottles, margarine tubs, garbage containers

• Polyamide (nylon) – extreme durability, provides a very good barrier to oxygen, so used for vaccum packaging, especially for foods containing fat (which can be susceptible to oxidation).

Polyethene and Polyamide

Plastic Material Polyethlene terephthalate (PET) - rigid plastic

bottles, light-weight, little risk of breakage and keep the fizz in carbonated drinks

Polystyrene –  low cost and has insulating properties. Used in foam egg cartons, meat trays, to soup bowls and salad boxes, coffee cups

PET and Polystyrene

Edible FilmsFood materials are protected from loss of

volatiles or reaction with other food ingredients by being encapsulated in protective edible materials

This can be done by spray drying flavoring materials emulsified with gelatin, gum arabic to form a thin coating around the food partucle

Examples: Sausage casings, coating if nuts with monoglyceride derivatives to protect them from oxidative rancidity

Sausage Casing

Cellulose FilmsCellulose films have a range of

characteristics such as different degrees of moisture proofing. Static-free regardless of climatic conditions and some are heat sealable.

It prevents wrapped sweets clinging to one another

In tablet coatings

Cellulose Films

GlassGlass has been used for food packaging for a

long time but tougher, It is chemically inert and non corrosive

It is susceptible to breakage and heavy tooHowever, glass is still very popular and is

used exclusively for many products, e.g. jam.Suitable for house hold canning purposes

Glass

Wood and Cloth materialsWoven cloth such as jute bags and cotton

bags used for bulk shipment of grains and flours.

Wire wound wood strips have been used to make crates for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Solid wooden crates are used for transporting iced fish.

Wood and Cloth materials

Combinations Of Packing Materials A fruit drink box where plastic, paper and

metal are combined in a laminate to give an ideal Package

This concept is also seen in peanut butter jar. The main package containing the food is made of glass(or plastic), the lid is made of metal lined with plastic and the label is made of paper

For a product like milk, which is an essential food, should not be so expensive. Paper is highly economical and also provides good printing surface.

However, since paper absorbs water, it will gain moisture from the milk, and this may spoil the product.

But when a thin layer of a plastic called polyethlene is utilized to line the inside of the milk carton, it serves as barrier to moisture and makes an economical, functional package.

AdvantagesMetal : Good overall barrierPaper : Economical, Good printing propertiesGlass : TransparentPlastic : Versatile, Light weight Therefore combining these basic materials

works well in most cases

DisadvantagesMetal : Prone to corrosionPaper : Not strong, absorbs waterGlass : Breakable, heavy in weightPlastics : Heat labile, environmental issues

MODIFIED ATMOSPHERIC PACKAGING

INTRODUCTIONModified atmospheric packaging (MAP) A preservation technique used to prolong

the shelf life of processed or fresh food by changing the composition of the air surrounding the food in the package .

Was pioneered by MARKS AND SPENCER in 1970’s.

Was use in every major UK supermarket in 1980’s.

REASONS FOR THE GROWTH IN MAP Changing eating habits. Changing lifestyles. The need to ensure the product safety. To extend shelf life. Development of other packaging

technologies. Extend geographic markets.

PRODUCTS INVOLVED IN MAP Raw meats Poultry Cooked and cured

meats Fish and shellfish Dairy products

(particularly cheese.)

Ready meals Fresh pasta Bakery products Fruits and

Vegetables Snacks Dried foods

GASES IN MAPAtmospheric Air composition 21% oxygen 1% Argon 78% Nitrogen 0.03% carbon dioxideGases used in MAP Carbon dioxide- to inhibit the microbial

growth Oxygen- to maintain the colour of red

meat and prevent anaerobic conditions (white fish)

Nitrogen- as an inert filler gas.

Gas Composition within the pack This is unlikely to remain constant

through the shelf life of the product because:

Physical interaction between gas and product

Effects of microbial and product metabolism

Gas permeation through the packaging material

Interaction between gas and productMainly CO2 into the aqueous and fat phases of the food Trapped gases (e.g between slices) can be released into pack Gases dissolved in the food may be released into pack atmosphere

Gas permeation through the packaging

No pack is a perfect barrier! All films are permeable to a greater or

lesser extentPermeability depends on:Nature of gasStructure and thickness of materialTemperatureRelative humidity for some materialsPartial pressures

Machinery types There are 4 distinct methods of producing

modified atmosphere packs Horizontal flow wrapping Vertical form-fill-seal Thermoform-fill-seal Rigid pack fill and sealChoice of pack style/machine depends largelyon the product to be packed

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ADVANTAGES OF MAP Potential shelf-life increase of 50-400% Reduces economic loss Products distributed over larger area Provides higher quality product Easier separation of slices Improved presentation Little or no need for preservatives

DISADVANTAGES OF MAP Visible additional costs Temperature control necessary Different gas formulations required Special equipment and training Food safety concerns Increased pack volume Benefits lost when pack opened or leaks

Fresh and Processed Food Packaging

Packing methods

Shrink - Side Seal

Automatic and manual side seal shrinking machines working with retractable films which allow to obtain a high quality package without folds after passing through a shrinkage oven which adapts film to product shape and dimensions.

Stretch Film

Highly flexible automatic film wrapping machines to pack fresh products in trays using stretched film.

Tray sealing

Automatic traysealing machines for fresh food packaging in trays with facilities for vacuum and/or gas injected packages (MAP)

Vertical (VFFS)

Vertical automatic wrapping machines using a single film coil to obtain a package with three weldings : two cross-weldings and one longitudinal welding. Its main field of application includes loose products, granulated products, doughy products or products difficult to handle.

Flow Pack (HFFS)

Automatic flow wrapping machines for high productions. Horizontal packing using a single film coil with three weldings : two cross-weldings and one longitudinal welding.

Fresh foods

Strawberry packaging in trays with automatic lid

placing machine Cherry tomatoes packaging in vertical machine (vffs) in steady flat bottom pack with 4 edge

seal Tomato clusters packaging in flow pack

wrapper (hffs) Apple and lemons tray packaging in flow pack wrapper (hffs) without tray

Strawberries tray packaging in stretch

film

Onion packaging in flow pack wrapper

(HFFS)

Heads of garlics packaging in flow

pack wrapper (hffs)

Onions (cut in pieces) vacuum

packaging in thermoforming in

flexible film

Cut vegetables

Cut salads packaging in vertical

machine (vffs)

Ready to eat chopped vegetables packaging in vertical machine (vffs)

Spinach leaves packaging in vertical machine (vffs)

Cut vegetables packaging with vertical machine (vffs) in pillow pack

Citrus fruits

Lemon group packaging in flow pack

wrapper

Orange unitary packaging in flow pack

wrapper (hffs) in shrink film

Orange tray packaging in flow pack wrapper (hffs) in shrink film

Dried fruitsMicrowave pop corn bag packaging in

flow pack wrapperDry fruits packaging in vertical machine

(vffs) in steady bottom pillow pack with

zipperDehydrated Apricot, poppy and raisins

vacuum packaging in thermoforming in

flexible filmDried Fruits, dates and dried peaches

packaging in vertical machine (vffs)

Legumes

-Legumes packaging in pillow pack with

polyethylene film.

-Coffee packaging in vertical machine

(vffs) in breathable pack

-Breakfast cereals packaging in vertical

machine (vffs) in gusseted pack

-Mushrooms packaging in traysealing in

modified atmosphere (MAP) in rigid trays

-Mushroom tray packaging in stretch film

Corn cobs packaging in flow pack

wrapper (HFFS)

Corn packaging in thermoforming in

vacuum pack with flexible film

Potatoes, beetroots, corn and carrots

vacuum packaging in thermoforming

with flexible film able to stand the

sanitization process

-Bunch of bananas packaging in flow

pack wrapper (hffs) in shrink film

-Banana cream packaging in

thermoforming with rigid film

-Bouque of aromatic herbs packaging in

Flow pack wrapper

-Herbs packaging in trays in flow

pack wrapper

-Flow pot packaging in vertical machine

(vffs) with handle to carry it

-Infusion dry flowers and herbs packaging

in vertical machine (vffs) in gusseted pillow

pack

-Turnip packaging in flow pack wrapper (hffs)

-Potatoes, beetroots, corn and carrots

vacuum packaging in thermoforming with

flexible film able to stand the sanitization

process

oils Oil, vinegar and salt mini doses packaging in

vertical machine (vffs) in gusseted bottom pack

Oil minidose packaging in thermoformong with rigid film

Meat

-Fresh meat in tray packaging in modified

atmosphere (MAP) using BDF shrink barrier

film in flow pack wrapper (HFFS)

-Fresh meat foam material trays SKIN

packaging in tray sealing

-Fresh meat expanded material trays MAP

packaging in tray sealing

-Mince meat packaging in poliestyren tray and

PVC film.

-Half ham vacuum packaging in

thermoforming in flexible film

-Ham packaging in thermoforming in

vacuum pack in flexible film

EGGS

-Eggs packaging in flow pack wrapper

-Eggs box packaging in flow pack wrapper

(hffs)

-Eggs trays packaging in flow pack

wrapper (hffs) with shrink film

Fish

-Salmon fillets "slice" foam material trays

MAP packaging in tray sealing

-Rigid material trays packaging in tray

sealing

-Fresh fish foam material trays MAP

packaging in tray sealing

-Prawns packaging in thermoforming in

flexible film

-Frozen fish fillets packaging in vertical

machine (vffs) in reclosable pack

Processed Food-Ready meals packaging in traysealingin modified atmosphere (MAP) in rigid trays-Frozen hamburguer packaging in flow packwrapper (hffs)-Vegetable hamburger vacuum packaging in thermoforming in flexible film-Sausage & processed meat packaging in

flow wrapper

-Fresh and cooked sausages packaging

in vertical machine (vffs)

-Sausages packaging in thermoforming

in vacuum pack in flexible film

Processed meat PS expanded barrier

tray packaging in traysealing with

modified atmosphere (MAP)

-Grouping of chocolate biscuit roll packs in

flow pack wrapper (HFFS)

-Biscuits multipack packaging in flow pack

wrapper

-Biscuits in tray packaging in flow pack

wrapper

-Chocolate tablet packaging in flow pack

wrapper (HFFS)

-Chocolate bar packaging in flow pack

wrapper (HFFS)

-Bombons packaging in traysealing in

modified atmosphere (MAP) in rigid

trays

-Chocolate tablets packaging in flow pack

wrapper (hffs)

-Chocolate bars packaging in flow pack

wrapper (hffs)

-Chocolate cream packaging in

thermoforming

-Pineapple flavoured skimmed yoghurt

packaging in thermoforming with sleeve

-Dried, salted and crumbled codfish

packaging in vertical machine (vffs) in

pillow pack

-Codfish packaging in side seal with

shrink film

-Loins and smoked fish filet vacuum

packaging in thermoforming with flexible

film

Bread-Bakery

The bakery sector requires flexible

packaging solutions to offer a quality,

traditional product in an attractive

presentation while conserving the products

natural freshness.

-Slice bread packaging in flow pack wrapper

-Group of cupcake muffins packaging in

flow pack wrapper

-Prepacked muffins packaging in vertical

machine (vffs) in steady flat bottom pack

with clip.

-Wrap and shrink of industrial bakery on

trays with poliolephyne film

-Pasta (Macaroni, noodles, wonders, stars,

letters, spirals, elbows) packaging in

vertical machine (vffs) in 5 kg bags

-Fresh rolled pasta packaging in flow pack

wrapper (hffs)

-Multipack noodels packaging in flow pack

wrapper (hffs)

Snacks

Crisp potatoes packs group packaging

in flow pack wrapper (hffs)

Crisps bags packaging in flow pack

wrapper (hffs)

Dairy products

-Powdered milk packaging in verticalmachine (vffs) in pillow and stable bag-Cheese packaging in flow pack

wrapper-Cheese packaging in flow pack

wrapper(HFFS) in modified atmosphere (MAP)-Soft cheese packaging in flow pack wrapper using shrink film-Sliced cheese MAP packing in thermoforming in rigid film

Cheese dairy dessert packaging in thermoforming

Thermoforming machines specially directed to dairy products (yogur, cream cheese) as well as gelatine and jams