Perhaps the secret ingredient to good food is love – but for large companies, the secret ingredient is quality food packaging. For your food to be preserved and bought in its best quality, it needs to be protected from contamination of physical or chemical sources. And for it to sell, it needs to catch the eye of its consumers.
There are always new and innovative ways to showcase your quality product on the shelf – especially in a vast and competitive environment like the food industry. Whether this is a snack, chocolate, or to-go-meal, food packaging remains at the heart of the industry. Thus, read ahead and learn of its importance and the best materials for your products here:
Why is Food Packaging Important?
In developing the food up to shipment and storage, the most crucial factor that affects both you and the consumer is the food packaging. Since it covers the handled materials and how it is handled, a lot can go haywire when there is even slight mishandling or when food is not adequately protected.
By knowing and practicing the importance of proper food packaging, you minimize risks and protect the integrity of your food:
Preserves the Freshness of Food
In an era where food products are being shipped from city to city or even from country to country, quality food packaging will allow you to contain your product’s freshness. And with arising technology, you could always find packaging equipment for food manufacturing to give your consumer fresh products – even if they are at the end of the supply chain.
Prevents Contamination and Encourages Hygiene
The freshness of the product’s appearance is one thing, but contamination from bacteria is a greater risk. Food products that are shipped or stored for more extended periods are vulnerable to these problems. This is why quality food packaging is essential – to ensure you that there aren’t any contaminants in the air during shipment or storage.
Not only the air outside the product is contained – but the air inside the package as well. Airtight food containers are used to prevent the food from drying, getting soggy, spoiling, or absorbing foul odors. Because bacteria are present in the air, quality airtight containers for food packaging aids your health and hygiene.
Detects Hints of Tampering and Physical Damage
Having a tamper-evident food package is one way for your customers to feel safe and secure. Because of this, any minor alterations to the product when it is displayed will be evident.
Thus, when a customer finds out that the product is contaminated or tampered with, they will choose another package. Additionally, food packaging could even aid you in catching the individual responsible before they do any other damages to other products and to your company’s reputation.
Another factor of quality food packaging is solving physical impacts. Bruises, cracks, rips, and dents made from mishandling in warehousing or shipment causes damage to the products. With this, there is a need for your packaging to be sturdy and have padding to absorb shocks and impacts.
Furthermore, quality food packaging will alert you to any damages to your product – whether this was made intentionally or not. Ultimately, this food packaging helps you avoid any losses and unsatisfied customers.
The Best Materials for Food Packaging
When choosing the best food packaging material, the elements you will need to think of are your preferences and the food products you will be storing. Most food packaging materials, however, consists of metals, paper, or plastic:
Plastic
This material is the most common as it is cost-effective, chemical resistant, and formidable. More than 20 billion kilos of plastic are being used as packaging because of its wide array of uses in Europe alone. And although it reacts to light or heat, this material reigns the top as it promotes shelf-life and easy shipment.
Metals
For metal food packaging, food that can be stored in cans and tubes utilize this kind of material. Because metal has good resistance to changes in the temperature and acts as a significant barrier against air, they increase the food’s life on the shelf. It’s harmless to the food, lightweight, and good protection from moisture and microorganisms.
Paper
Even though paper may look delicate, it is a material used by the Chinese since the first or second B.C. Nowadays, it is used for milk cartons, folding cartons, or even made into paper plates, cups, bags, or wrapping paper. Although paper is incapable of sealing heat, it is a flexible material that can be used for packing dry food.
Takeaway
Good packaging is not an easy task – as it deals with preventing wastes, increasing the life of food throughout storage, aiming for easy transport of products, and separating bacteria from the actual product. And by indulging in food packaging, you capture consumers and increase your sales as you learn the art and the secrets of good food.