Food Packaging

When specifying the oxygen permeability of a packaging film what are three of the five parameters that are given?

Material type, Temperature, Time, Film Thickness, Relative Humidity, and Oxygen transmissionr ate

Name 4 types of modified packaging.

Modified atmosphere packaging, controlled atmosphere packaging, nitrogen flush packaging, vacuum packaging, active packaging, intelligent packaging, aseptic packaging, edible packaging, Biodegradable Packaging, Nanotechnology-Enhanced Packaging, Skin Packaging

What are the 5 things that are required on a label?

Name, net quantity, ingredient list, allergen information, nutrition facts panel, manufacturer information

What are the three layers of retortable pouches?

Outer layer of polyester film (strength, temp, printability), middle layer of aluminum foil (barrier properties), inner layer of polypropylene (heat seal).

Give several examples of active packaging.

Oxygen scavenger, anti-microbial packaging, ethylene scavenger, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) or other vapor removal packaging, temperature sensitive labels, moisture absorbers, antimicrobial packaging, CO2 emitters, UV light blocking films, flavor and odor absorbers, antioxidant releasing films, biodegradable active packaging

Modified atmosphere packaging involves manipulating the concentrations of gases in the headspace surrounding the product. What three gases are most commonly used?

Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen

List three types of food spoilage indicators that can be incorporated into smart packaging.

pH-sensitive dyes, oxygen sensors, and microbial growth indicators.

What are the four most commonly used flexible packaging materials?

Plastic (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, PET), paper, cellophane, aluminum foil

Name 3 types of aseptic packages.

preformed (cans, cups, glass, bottles), laminates and plastic containers, carton FFS (form-fill-seal) like tetrapak, thermoform-fill-seal systems, bags and pouches, and blow molded containers

Classifying the following into either primary, secondary, or tertiary types of packaging. Cartons, boxes, trays, wrappers, pallets, bags

Primary: Cartons, Boxes, Trays, Wrappers, Bags Secondary: Cartons, Boxes, Trays Tertiary: Pallets

Describe the major functions of food packaging and give an example for each.

Protection (barrier against oxygen/moisture), containment (holding product), communication (labeling), convenience (resealability), and preservation (MAP, vacuum packaging).

Give four advantages of steel cans.

Protection from contamination, barrier from O2 and other volatiles, barrier from light, suitable for high-speed handling, suitable for displays in stores, suitable for high speed handling

Name 3 functions of packaging in protecting food from deterioration.

Recontamination with microorganisms, attack by insects and rodents, moisture gain or drying out, air and light, mechanical abuse.

Give 4 advantages of retortable pouches over tin cans and jars.

Reduced heat exposure, improvements in taste, colour, and flavour; fewer nutrient losses, rapid heating in pouch, requires less disposal space, pouches and containers do not corrode externally and there is a minimum of product–container interaction, easy to open, no risk of cuts to consumer opening container, reduction in storage space requirements and lighter weight, savings in shelf space, easy to handle and display, opportunity to market multipacks, energy requirements for container construction are less than that for cans.

Name three advantages of can enamels.

Resistance to scratches, ability to withstand high temperatures, enhance appearance of objects, easy to clean, versatility (can be applied to wood, metals, ceramic).

What are 5 items that must be found on the nutritional facts label found on a food?

Serving size, calories, total fat (saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol), sodium, total carbohydrate (dietary fiber, total sugars, and added sugar), and protein. Micronutrients: calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamin D

Name 4 basic requirements that are necessary during aseptic packaging.

Sterile environment (or aseptic zones), sterilize product contact surface of the package by using heat/chemicals/high energy radiation, hermetically sealed containers, monitoring of critical factors such as air quality, sealing, temperature

The three external measurements of a can seam include?

Thickness, width (length or height), and countersink

Of the following films, which has the highest oxygen permeability? (a) nylon; (b) polyester; (c) polyethylene; (d) saran

(c) polyethylene

Which of the following has the greatest market share of food packaging? A. flexible packaging, b. glass, c. other metals or d. paper & board

a) flexible packaging, as in 2023-2024, Flexible packaging: ~35–40% of the global food packaging market. Paper & board: ~25–30%, especially strong in dry food and fast food sectors. Glass: ~10–15%, mainly used for beverages and premium goods due to weight and fragility. Other metals (like tin): ~10% or less, mostly for canned good. Source: statista, smither, and mordon intelligence