There are many reasons why packaging is important for food safety. Food can spoil or become contaminated quickly, and it’s a lot easier to keep fresh foods fresh in the fridge if they’re sealed in an airtight package.
If you buy food from the grocery store without any packaging on it, how would you know if any pests touched the food or not?
Food packaging is vital to the profitability of an item when it first reaches the market because it protects the food within from chemical, physical, and environmental elements that might alter the product and render it unsellable.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the most important reasons why you need to look for the right food packaging for food goods is important, as well as some of the most important aspects to keep in mind when packaging a food product.
Prevents Foodborne Illness by Keeping It Safe
One of the most important reasons to package food is to keep it safe from contaminants that can cause food poisoning.
Proper food packaging prevents outside contaminants like bacteria, chemicals, and pests from getting into the food and contaminating it. It’s important to remember that even before a product is packaged, it can be contaminated by things like dirty equipment, poor food handling practices, and contaminated ingredients.
That’s why food packaging facilities must meet stringent cleanliness standards and use advanced technologies to clean and sterilize packaging materials before they are used.
Sealed food packages also help to keep oxygen out, which can cause foods to be contaminated by foodborne diseases such as Escherechia Coli and Salmonella.
In addition, properly sealed packages can help to prevent physical contaminants like hair, dirt, and glass from getting into food.
Maintains Food Quality and Extends Shelf Life
Another important reason to package food is to maintain its quality and extend its shelf life.
Food packaging helps to keep foods fresh by keeping out oxygen and moisture, which can cause foods to spoil.
It also protects food from being crushed or damaged, which can alter its taste, texture, and appearance. In addition, food packaging can help to keep foods at their proper temperature, which is essential for maintaining freshness and preventing the growth of bacteria.
Whether you’re items are dry items such as tea and coffee, hot liquids, or cold fresh meals, the food inside must be fresh and undamaged or your order will arrive spoiled and worthless.
Ensuring proper shelf-life for food is important especially if you are managing food industry.
Not only that, it will be unappealing, which will have a negative impact on the business’s image and future sales.
With the proper food packaging, you can ensure that your food will travel safely and will arrive in the condition that you and your customers have come to expect.
Protection against Deterioration by Environmental Causes
According to studies, close to 40% of the world’s food supply is lost to environmental causes such as extreme temperatures, moisture, light, and pests. Proper food packaging can help to protect food from these environmental hazards and prevent it from being damaged or spoiled.
For example, vacuum-sealed packaging can help to keep foods fresh by protecting them from oxygen and moisture.
Properly sealed packages can also help to prevent physical damage from occurring during transport and storage. In addition, food packaging can help to protect food from light, which can cause it to lose its color, flavor, and nutrients.
Pests are another common environmental hazard that can damage food.
Proper food packaging can help to keep pests out by sealing food in airtight containers. In addition, using the right materials for food packaging can help to deter pests. For example, using metal or glass containers instead of paper or plastic can help to keep pests away from food.
Improper packaging can cause foods to be damaged or spoiled by environmental hazards.
That’s why it’s important to use the proper packaging materials and methods to protect food from these hazards.
Protects Against Tampering
Another important reason to package food is to protect it from tampering. Food packaging can help to deter people from tampering with food by making it more difficult to open or tamper with the packaging.
According to different studies, sealed packages can make it more difficult for someone to contaminate food without being detected. In addition, using packaging that is difficult to open can also help to prevent tampering.
For example, child-resistant packaging can help to deter children from opening food packages and eating the contents.
In addition, using packaging that is tamper-evident can help to deter people from tampering with food. Tamper-evident packaging includes features that make it obvious if the packaging has been opened or tampered with.
For example, some types of tamper-evident packaging include sealing food in a container that must be broken to open, using shrink wrap that is difficult to remove without damaging the packaging, and using packages that have tamper-evident seals.
Effective Company Branding
In today’s competitive marketplace, food companies need to find ways to stand out from the crowd.
One way to do this is by using packaging to effectively brand their products.
Food packaging can be used to communicate important information about a product, such as its name, ingredients, and nutritional value. Plus, packaging can be used to convey a company’s brand identity and values.
For example, some companies use packaging to communicate their commitment to sustainability or to highlight that their products are organic or natural. In addition, using unique or eye-catching packaging can help to make a product more memorable and increase its chances of being noticed by consumers.
Proper food packaging is important for many reasons, including protecting food from damage, deterring tampering, and effective branding.
When done correctly, packaging can help to ensure that food arrives fresh and unspoiled. It can also help to promote a company’s brand identity and values.
How is Choosing a Packaging Machine Important to Preserve the Quality of your Food Product?
When you are running a food business, it is important to choose the right packaging machine in order to preserve the quality of your food product. There are a few factors that you need to consider when choosing a packaging machine, such as the type of food product, the amount of production, and the budget.
Type of Food Product
The type of food product is an important factor to consider when choosing a packaging machine. Different types of food require different packaging methods.
For example, fresh food products need to be packaged in a way that keeps them fresh, while processed food can be packaged in a more simple way.
One good example is pillow pouch packaging that are more suitable in snacks such as chips, biscuits, and other dry food because it can maintain its crispiness.
On the other hand, vertical form fill seal (VFFS) packaging is more common in liquids, powders, and granules because it uses a tube of film that is sealed on three sides and then fills from the bottom up.
Amount of Production
The amount of production is another important factor to consider when choosing a packaging machine. If you have a large amount of production, you will need a machine that can handle the volume.
Meanwhile, if you have a small amount of production, you can choose a smaller and less expensive machine. Shall you need proper expertise with this, Spack Machine is always ready to provide you with expert knowledge in packaging machines.
Budget
The budget is also an important factor to consider. You need to choose a packaging machine that fits your budget. There are many different types of packaging machines with different prices. You can find a cheaper machine if you know where to look for it.
In terms of packaging, you may have in-house or contract packaging. The in-house packaging requires you to have your own packaging machine while the contract packaging means that you will hire someone else to do the packaging for you.
If you have a limited budget, it is better to choose contract packaging. This way, you don’t need to buy your own machine and you can save money.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right packaging machine is important to preserve the quality of your food product.
You need to consider the type of food product, the amount of production, and the budget when choosing a packaging machine. If you have a limited budget, it is better to choose contract packaging. This way, you don’t need to buy your own machine and you can save money.
Spack Machine is at your service for expert guidance on machinery packaging. Visit our website today to learn more about our products and services.
