Health and safety is paramount when it comes to food-grade packaging. Strict regulations, testing procedures and packaging codes are in place from the very start of the manufacturing process to ensure that ready-prepared food is safe for consumption when it reaches the consumer.
What Makes Packaging Food Grade?
To be certified as food-grade, packaging must meet several key criteria:
- Material Stability: It must be made from inert materials that do not react with food. Some plastics, like polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), are preferred because they are chemically stable and do not degrade or leach chemicals into food.
- Fit-for-Purpose: The packaging must be suitable for its intended use, especially for shipping or storage. Rigid packaging offers the best puncture resistance and protection for bulk shipping.
- Non-Toxic: The packaging must not contain toxic coatings, dyes, or additives. For instance, a metal jerry can be designed for fuel and cannot be used for drinking water because its internal coating is toxic and soluble in water.
- Certified: Packaging must meet regulatory standards set by authorities like the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Certified packaging is marked with a glass and fork symbol, indicating its suitability for food and beverage use. The BRC Global Certified scheme ensures manufacturers and suppliers adhere to proper safety standards.
- Sealable: Food packaging must be sealable to ensure contents remain safe during transit. Features like tamper-evident tabs, heat seals, and snap caps help maintain the integrity of the packaging.
Food Grade vs. Food Safe
While "food grade" refers to materials that are safe for food contact, "food safe" refers to the finished product. For a product to be food-safe, it must be made from food-grade materials and be fit for its specific purpose, considering factors like temperature, contact duration, and cleanability.
The Three Types of Food Packaging
Primary Packaging: Primary packaging directly contacts the product and must be made from certified food-grade materials. It includes both flexible and rigid types. Soft packaging, like mesh fruit bags and shrink-wraps, often requires additional packaging for safe transit.
Secondary Packaging: Secondary packaging serves as an additional layer, like a cereal box, which includes branding and nutritional information. The primary packaging, such as a plastic bag, protects the product, while the secondary layer promotes it.
Tertiary Packaging; Tertiary packaging, also known as shipping or transit packaging, ensures the safe transportation of goods. Made from materials like cardboard or shrink wrap, protect the product during transit. This type of packaging aids in efficient and safe handling, often using pallets and plastic wrap to standardise units for easier transport.
Flexible vs Rigid Packaging
Flexible Packaging
Flexible packaging includes soft plastics, paper, and foil. It's lightweight and malleable, used to seal and protect the contents from oxidation, moisture, and contamination. While excellent for extending shelf life and preserving produce, its thin nature offers minimal physical protection, requiring stronger secondary containers for safe shipping.
Rigid Packaging
Rigid packaging is made from hard materials like metal, glass, and plastic and provides the highest level of protection. It includes a wide variety of containers, including buckets, bottles, jerry cans, jars, and cans. This type of packaging is ideal for bulk shipping and storage to ensure that the contents remain safe and intact.
Plastic buckets are one of the most versatile types of rigid packaging. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colours. Clear 1-litre buckets are popular for popcorn, candyfloss, and sweets because they showcase the product and also protect it, while larger sizes are great for wholesale use.
Functions of Food Packaging
Food packaging serves multiple purposes:
- Protection: It must keep the contents safe and fit for consumption, balancing cost-effectiveness with the necessary protection.
- Preservation: Proper packaging extends shelf life by protecting against environmental factors like oxygen, moisture, and contamination.
- Promotion: Packaging also plays a role in marketing, attracting buyers and building brand recognition through design and labelling.
- Regulatory Compliance: Packaging must display required information such as product name, expiration date, warnings, allergens, net quantity, ingredients, and origin.
Food-grade packaging is essential in ensuring the safety, quality, and longevity of food products. Adhering to strict standards and regulations helps maintain consumer trust and promotes food safety from production to consumption.
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