Food packaging

Information for the nation

Over the last 50 years the way we buy food has

changed. In the past, some food items were

usually sold loose and taken home in a paper
bag.

Due to advances in technology, most food

items are now sold pre-packed.

Protection
Food products often have a long journey from the initial
manufacturer until finally being eaten by consumers.
They must be stored in warehouses before being
transported and distributed to retailers.
They are then likely to be stacked in more warehouses
before being sold.
At all these stages the product may be damaged by
careless handling or changes in storage conditions
such as light, humidity and temperature.

The purpose of packaging

The aims of packaging include:
prevent physical damage, e.g. from knocking, shaking
or crushing;
prevent contamination from micro-organisms,
pollution or vermin;
protect against dehydration or dampness;
protect the products nutritional and sensory
characteristics;
keep the product in peak condition;
help to increase a products shelf life

protection
The aim of packaging is to contain the product and
keep it intact.
This means that liquid products do not leak and
that dry materials, such as flour, do not spill out.
It is sometimes necessary to design packaging that
is shaped especially to contain a particular food,
e.g. egg boxes, so that the product is held securely
and well protected from damage.

Labelling
Packaging is also designed to be visually stimulating and
provide information about the product to help the
customer. The information supplied must cover:
the name of the food;
the weight/volume (metric) (unless under 5g);
the list of ingredients in descending order of weight;
how the food should be stored, where appropriate;
the date when the food should be eaten;
genetically modified ingredients and allergens;
the name and address of manufacturer or distributor;
nutrition information on the back of pack (from 2016
onwards).

Labelling and package design

The manufacturer may choose to provide extra
information, e.g. preparation and cooking
instructions, the place the food comes from and a
bar code to identify the food.
The overall design of packaging, from its shape to
the style of writing used, indicate the type of
product it contains and for whom it is intended. It
may also use graphical tricks to give a sense of
quality, e.g. that it has been hand made.

Consumer information
Food assurance schemes have been developed to
compliment food legislation. They cover the food chain
from farm to fork.
An example is the Red Tractor food assurance scheme
It covers:
cereals, oilseeds, pulses and sugar;
fruit, vegetables and salad;
milk;
chicken;
beef, lamb and pig meat.

Consumer information
The Red Tractor logo can only be used to label ingredients

from farmers, growers and food processors that have been

inspected and certified to strict standards. Detailed
technical standards that cover:
food safety makes sure your food is safe to eat;
animal welfare makes sure animals have everything they
need for a good quality of life;
environment makes sure farmers protect the countryside
by preventing pollution of watercourses, soil, air and
wildlife habitat;
traceability every part of the food supply chain is
inspected to ensure food carrying the logo is accounted for
and can be traced back to UK farms.

Packaging design
When designing packaging it is important to
consider the following:
Is it easy to handle and open?
Is it a convenient shape, so it is easy to stack?
Which colours will be used on the packaging?
What size of print should be used?
(Can consumers read it easily?)
Will it be economical to produce?
What about environmental considerations?
(Will it be recyclable or does it make minimum use
of natural resources?)

Packaging design
Increased rates of production during the last few
decades have made it necessary to use different
methods and materials to pack and protect food
products.
However, other factors also determine the choice
of materials used, especially in relation to food
hygiene and safety. For example, the material must
be suitable for the food, as some chemicals present
in the food or packaging may react together.

Packaging Materials
Cans
Glass Containers
Rigid plastic containers

Flexible plastic packaging

Paper & board

Aluminium foil & laminates

Styrofoam

Cans
Advantages:
Cheap & widely used in Australia
Provides good protection of the contents

Easy to handle during manufacture (filling stacking

& packing)
Stack easily on supermarket shelves

Store for long periods of time

cans
Steel cans:
coated in tin which acts as a barrier and prevents
the food reacting with the steel.
Cans containing acidic ingredients are coated with
a plastic lacquer to prevent a reaction with the
metal
Used for solid & semi-solid foods.

Aluminium cans:
used for soft drinks & beer

cans

Steel Cans

Aluminium Cans

cans
Cans that have bulges or dents
Air may have entered so there is a risk of
microbial contamination
Lacquer may be damaged & food may have
reacted with the metal Canned food do not
have a use-by date as they are required only on
foods with a shelf life less than 2 years

Canned food do not have a use-by date as they are only

required on foods that have a shelf life of less than 2
years

Glass Containers
Chemically inert - wont react with its contents
Non porous
Odourless & hygienic
Contents can be seen as glass is transparent
Great strength (continually getting stronger &
lighter)
Easy open & re-sealable
Variety of shapes & sizes
Long-term storage & extended shelf-life
Sustainable - can be recycled or re-used

Glass Containers
Uses:
Semi-liquid, liquid & solid foods
Examples:
Preparation:
Air blowing, rinsing with warm water, washing in
detergent, sterilising (aseptic)

Paper & Cardboard

Paper:
Used for a wide variety of products
Versatile & cost effective

Variety of shapes, textures & thickness' available

Greaseproof paper can be used when packaging
products such as confectionary & butter. They act
as a barrier to odours & moisture

Paper & Cardboard

Paperboard (thicker paper-based packaging)
Can be laminated with other materials to create
strength & moisture resistance E.g. Tetra packs
Pulped Fibreboard
Offers protection for products such as eggs because
of the airsplace between the particles

cardboard

Rigid Plastic Packaging

Advantages:
Lightweight & strong
High resistance to breakage

Available in a wide variety of colours, shapes, sizes

& textures
Can add to the sale appeal of the product

Cheap and easy to produce compared to other

packaging materials

Rigid Plastic Packaging

Types of plastic used:
polyethylene terephalate (PET) - used clear as colouring
has an impact on the strength. E.g. soft drink, water &
oil
high density polyethylene (HDPE) - stronger when
colour is added. Used for products with a shorter shelf
life E.g. milk
Polypropylene (PP) - high melting point so is useful for
hot fill products such as soups & fruits in syrup. Can be
moulded easily E.g. yoghurt & ice cream
Polystyrene (PS) - Aerated texture allows package to
protect the product from physical damage. Also provide
thermal retention E.g. trays & cups

Rigid Plastic Packaging

Flexible Plastic Packaging

Any plastic that is formed into a sheet or reel with a thickness os up
to 0.375mm
Plastic films & Bags:
Polyethylene (PET) E.g. cling wrap

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) E.g. Cereal bags

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) E.g. Kraft singles
wrappers
Polypropylene (PP) E.g. chip, biscuit, 2 minute noodle
wrappers
Plastics are made by melting a pellet and forcing it out into the desired shape.
This process is known as EXTRUSION

Flexible Plastic Packaging

Laminations (composite plastics):
Combining 2 or more plastic materials from separate reels
that are glued together with adhesive
Plastics are extruded and glued together at the same time
MAP packaged and vacuum packages can use 3-11 layers

Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Modified Atmosphere Packaging is a way of extending

the shelf life of fresh food products. The technology

subsitutes the atmospheric air inside a package with a
protective gas mix. The gas in the package helps
ensure that the product will stay fresh for as long as
possible.

Aluminium Foils
Most foils

made from aluminium

Advantages:
light
flexible
strong
Able to withstand moderate heat
Examples:
Tubes - condensed milk

Trays - frozen foods

Product seals - sour cream, butter & yoghurt
Wrappers - Cadbury chocolate block

Aluminium foil

Laminations
Aluminium foil joined with other materials such as plastic and paper to
create a stronger packaging material.
Example:
Muesli bar wrapper (paper, foil & plastic)

Tetra Packs:
Multi-layered laminations known as composite packages
Each layer provides a different purpose

Metallising:
Plastic coated in a fine layer of metal. E.g. Twisties chip
packets

tetrapack

Others
Combination Packages:
2 or more separate packaging materials that function
independently of one another
E.g. Breakfast Cereal
Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Packaging:
Primary - Package in which the food is sold to the consumer
Secondary - Food sold with a secondary level of packaging. E.g. 6
pack of poppers

Tertiary - Used to secure multiple secondary packages to make

bulk handling & transportation easier. E.g. shrink wrapped
pallets

 thankyou