Editorials - (2021) Volume 9, Issue 1
The necessity of food packaging
Katharine Mikealson*Received: 07-May-2021 Published: 30-Mar-2021
About the Study
Food packaging is packaging for food. A package provides protection, tampering resistance, and special physical, chemical, or biological needs. It may bear a nutrition facts label and other information about food being offered for sale.
Food packaging is used to allow for easy transport of goods, protect the integrity of food products, and ensure separation from harmful chemicals, particles, bacteria, and pests. It also allows for food labeling and other information for consumers such as ingredients allowing you to adhere to any laws and regulations regarding labeling of for-consumption goods.
Packaging and package labeling have several objectives Physical protection: The food enclosed in the package may require protection from shock, vibration, compression, temperature, bacteria, etc.
Barrier protection: A barrier from oxygen, water vapor, dust, etc., is often required. Permeation is a critical factor in design. Keeping the contents clean, fresh, and safe for the intended shelf life is a primary function. Modified atmospheres or controlled atmospheres are also maintained in some food packages. Some packages contain desiccants, oxygen absorbers or ethylene absorbers to help extend shelf life.
Containment or agglomeration: Small items are typically grouped together in one package to allow efficient handling. Liquids, powders, and granular materials need containment.
Information transmission: Packages and labels communicate how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose of the package or product. Some types of information are required by governments.
Marketing: The packaging and labels can be used by marketers to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product. Aesthetically pleasing and eye-appealing food presentations can encourage people to consider the contents. Package design has been an important and constantly evolving phenomenon for several decades. Marketing communications and graphic design are applied to the surface of the package and (in many cases) the point of sale display. The color of the package plays a significant role in evoking emotions that persuade the consumer to make the purchase.
Security: Packaging can play an important role in reducing the security risks of shipment. Packages can be made with improved tamper resistance to deter tampering and also can have tamper-evident features to help indicate tampering. Packages can be engineered to help reduce the risks of package pilferage; some package constructions are more resistant to pilferage and some have pilfer-indicating seals. Packages may include authentication seals to help indicate that the package and contents are not counterfeit. Packages also can include anti-theft devices, such as dye packs, RFID tags, or electronic article surveillance tags, that can be activated or detected by devices at exit points and require specialized tools to deactivate. Using packaging in this way is a means of retail loss prevention.
Convenience: Packages can have features which add convenience in distribution, handling, stacking, display, sale, opening, reclosing, use, and reuse.
Portion control: Single-serving packaging has a precise amount of contents to control usage. Bulk commodities (such as salt) can be divided into packages that are a more suitable size for individual households. It also aids the control of inventory: selling sealed one-liter bottles of milk, rather than having people bring their own bottles to fill themselves.