Good packaging is a great concern for big and small manufacturers of food and even for nonfood products. Good packaging ensures the consumer or buyer that the product is intact and not tampered with, and therefore that the quality of the product is high. Many types of packaging are used for food and nonfood products, such as plastic bottles, cans, tetra packs and high-density plastics. Packaging needs to pass several tests for durability during storage, transport and shipment, and for the ability to preserve the quality of the product.
Instructions
1. Select the types of packaging you want to use for your finished food product. An example for food product is processed corned beef, which can be packed in can or tetra pack. Familiarize yourself with the types of packaging, since some packaging is not suitable for some products, such as vinegar should not be packed in a can. For more information on the different types of packaging you can use and their evaluation procedures, you can attend courses like Achieving Retort Pouch Integrity. (See Resources.)
2. Submit your packed food products to certified packaging testing companies like Intertek or packaging contract laboratories. Choose the type of test you want to conduct, such as performance testing, physical testing and/or analytical services. The results of the tests also help determine the shelf life of your products, since canned products have longer shelf life than those packed in tetra packs.
3. Conduct your own packaging tests, such as storing the packed products in different temperatures, fluctuating humidity and lighting. You can also conduct your own durability test for the product packaging by rough handling of the packed product. For shelf life studies, set aside your own samples for age deterioration. However, it is best for certified testing laboratories to conduct the tests.
Tags: types packaging, shelf life, food product, Good packaging, nonfood products, packed tetra