All about the Materials Used In Packaging of Food

Food packaging consists of enveloping the food in food packing bags to protect them from two things, environmental factors, and tampering. Thus protecting it from damage during transport and storage and preventing contamination of food. This extends the shelf life of food.

Apart from this, the food packing bags also provide information regarding the ingredients, nutritional content of the food, serving size, etc., thus helping customers consume it easily. Packaging is specific to the food and depends on a wide range of materials. This article focuses on the various materials used for it.

Materials for food packaging

Choosing the right material for packaging a specific food is determined by the function for which the package is needed, such as protection against oxygen, moisture, light, high temperatures, microorganisms, chemical agents, etc. Food packaging materials include metals, plastics, paper, and glass.

1)     Metals

The most commonly used metal materials are aluminum and steel.

a)       Aluminum

Aluminum provides good protection against temperature changes, gases, oxygen, moisture, microorganism, and radiation, keeping the food fresh and aromatic. In addition, it has excellent malleability and offers ease of printing. Moreover, it is harmless, recyclable, and lightweight. You can find the best aluminum manufacturers at https://logapak.si.

b)       Steel

Steel is a permanent material that comes as tin-coated steel or tin-free steel. It can be endlessly recycled without any effect on its quality. Tin-coated steel protects against gases, moisture, odors, and light. It offers resistance against heat and staining from black sulfide, thus great for packaging fish.

2)     Plastic

Most commonly and widely used material for food packaging. Around 40 percent of plastics are used in food packaging. Convenience, low cost, formability, lightweight, resistance against chemicals, easy process-ability, and other such properties make plastic widespread.

a)       Thermoplastics

These polymers soften when heated and can keep their shape at room temperature. This makes them suitable for food packaging. They are easily recyclable.

b)       Polyolefin

In this category, there are polyethylene and polypropylene. They are commonly used due to their lightweight, strength, stability, recyclability, process-ability, malleability, and resistance to moisture, heat, chemicals, etc.

c)        Polyester

In this category, the most commonly used is polyethylene terephthalate. It provides resistance against acids, oils, solvents, gas, and heat. In addition, it is strong, hard, ductile, lightweight, and transparent.

3)     Paper

Paper is very commonly used to make food packing bags. Its types include paperboard and paper laminates.

4)       Glass

Glass is the least toxic material to be used for making food packing bags. It is hygienic, durable, inert, impervious, microwaveable, and heat treatable.

Conclusion

Among all the different materials used to make food packing bags, aluminum is taking the industry by storm. You can get the best aluminum foil packaging material at https://logapak.si.