PACKAGING PACKAGING SELECTIONSELECTION

Apply Principles of Food Apply Principles of Food PackagingPackaging

Semester 1 2009Semester 1 2009

ALUMINIUM PACKAGINGALUMINIUM PACKAGING

Is used extensively for the Is used extensively for the protection, storage and protection, storage and preparation of food & beverages.preparation of food & beverages.

• Aluminium cansAluminium cans

•Aluminium foils – wrappers & lidsAluminium foils – wrappers & lids

ALUMINIUM PACKAGINGALUMINIUM PACKAGING

ALUMINIUM ATTRIBUTESALUMINIUM ATTRIBUTES::• Conducts heat extremely well – energy Conducts heat extremely well – energy

efficient for preparing & serving hot foodefficient for preparing & serving hot food• Very light – reduces transport costsVery light – reduces transport costs• Non-toxic – imparts no odour or flavourNon-toxic – imparts no odour or flavour• Solid aluminium is a barrier to light, air & Solid aluminium is a barrier to light, air &

water water • Aluminium packages are secure, tamper Aluminium packages are secure, tamper

proof, hygenic and easy to openproof, hygenic and easy to open• Aluminium cans are 100% Aluminium cans are 100% recyclablerecyclable

ALUMINIUM FOILALUMINIUM FOIL

• Foil is made by passing coiled aluminium Foil is made by passing coiled aluminium sheet repeatedly between steel rollers, set sheet repeatedly between steel rollers, set progressively closer together (10 times)progressively closer together (10 times)

• Aluminium foil is used for containers and Aluminium foil is used for containers and packaging foods and pharmaceuticalspackaging foods and pharmaceuticals

• Excellent conductor of heat – bake a Excellent conductor of heat – bake a potato in foil or insulate your home with itpotato in foil or insulate your home with it

ALUMINIUM PACKAGINGALUMINIUM PACKAGING

• Cans used for food & beverages have Cans used for food & beverages have a polymer coating applied to the a polymer coating applied to the inside of the can inside of the can

• This prolongs the shelf life of productThis prolongs the shelf life of product

• The coating ensures that the acids The coating ensures that the acids and salts in the product do not come and salts in the product do not come into contact with the metal into contact with the metal

FACTORS AFFECTING FACTORS AFFECTING PACKAGING MATERIAL PACKAGING MATERIAL

SELECTIONSELECTION

• The characteristics of food to be The characteristics of food to be packagedpackaged

• Cost/budget availableCost/budget available

• Packaging machines to be used – can Packaging machines to be used – can it be packed on existing equipment?it be packed on existing equipment?

• Training – will operators be able to Training – will operators be able to pack it or is further training required?pack it or is further training required?

FACTORS AFFECTING FACTORS AFFECTING PACKAGING MATERIAL PACKAGING MATERIAL

SELECTIONSELECTION

• End use of product eg. Re-sealable, End use of product eg. Re-sealable, microwavemicrowave

• Storage & transport needsStorage & transport needs

• Printability & adhesion of labelsPrintability & adhesion of labels

• Environmental impactEnvironmental impact

• Safety – eg. tamper proofingSafety – eg. tamper proofing

SUITABILITY FOR SUITABILITY FOR PURPOSEPURPOSE

• What must the package achieve?What must the package achieve?

• What types of package are available What types of package are available that can do this?that can do this?

• What are the pros and cons for each What are the pros and cons for each of the potential types?of the potential types?

• What costs will result for each What costs will result for each possibility?possibility?

ASSESS NEEDS OF ASSESS NEEDS OF PRODUCTPRODUCTImportant facts to gather:Important facts to gather:

• Nature of the product – can it deteriorate?Nature of the product – can it deteriorate?

• Product size Product size

• Product shapeProduct shape

• Product weight Product weight

• Product densityProduct density

• Weaknesses: eg. Break, bend, crush, scuffWeaknesses: eg. Break, bend, crush, scuff

ASSESS NEEDS OF ASSESS NEEDS OF PRODUCTPRODUCT• Strengths: which parts will withstand Strengths: which parts will withstand

loadsloads

• The effect of moisture and temperature The effect of moisture and temperature changes on productchanges on product

• Which components need to be packed Which components need to be packed separatelyseparately

• See table handoutSee table handout

COST & ECONOMICSCOST & ECONOMICS

The question of cost must not be allowed The question of cost must not be allowed to compromise the desired quality to compromise the desired quality standards.standards.

Two components to be considered:Two components to be considered:

• A) A) Packaging material pricesPackaging material prices

• B) B) Machinery cost (if new needed)Machinery cost (if new needed)

COST & ECONOMICSCOST & ECONOMICSCost elements in food packaging:Cost elements in food packaging:

• Packaging material costPackaging material cost

• Storage and handling costs of the empty Storage and handling costs of the empty packages eg. Warehouse & deliverypackages eg. Warehouse & delivery

• Filling cost, including QA & handling Filling cost, including QA & handling

• Storage costs of the filled packagesStorage costs of the filled packages

• Transport cost of delivering filled Transport cost of delivering filled packagespackages

• Losses due to breakage, spoilage, damage Losses due to breakage, spoilage, damage

SHELF LIFE & SHELF LIFE & PRESERVATIONPRESERVATION

Packaging materials can protect against:Packaging materials can protect against:

• MoistureMoisture

• OxygenOxygen

• LightLight

• HeatHeat

• ImpactImpact

More details next weekMore details next week

CONSUMER SAFETYCONSUMER SAFETY

• What is a “tamper proof” seal?What is a “tamper proof” seal?

• Indicates that the product has not been Indicates that the product has not been opened, ie. It has remained sealed, opened, ie. It has remained sealed, since it was filled by the manufacturer.since it was filled by the manufacturer.

• Have been cases of sabotage in the Have been cases of sabotage in the past.past.

• Look for examples of tamper proof Look for examples of tamper proof seals in advertising brochuresseals in advertising brochures

TAMPER EVIDENT SEALSTAMPER EVIDENT SEALS

• Generally plastic or foil eg, lids which Generally plastic or foil eg, lids which twist open or peel backtwist open or peel back

• Need to “break the seal” in order to Need to “break the seal” in order to access the productaccess the product

• Often accompanied by a warning not Often accompanied by a warning not to use if seal is brokento use if seal is broken

MARKETING FACTORSMARKETING FACTORS

• See handout table 1.7 p.15See handout table 1.7 p.15

• Complete questions Activity 4Complete questions Activity 4

SPECIFICATIONSSPECIFICATIONS

• Follow a standard formatFollow a standard format• Designed to describe the packaging to Designed to describe the packaging to

be applied to a product in detailbe applied to a product in detail• Used for QA testing & referenceUsed for QA testing & reference• Must consider the product assessment Must consider the product assessment • As with all Quality system documents, As with all Quality system documents,

must be clear to follow and controlled must be clear to follow and controlled eg. Title, “approved by”, date of issue eg. Title, “approved by”, date of issue usedused

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK

•Simply Tomatoes Simply Tomatoes

Case StudyCase StudyComplete “student activities” and Complete “student activities” and

bring along to class next weekbring along to class next week

REFERENCESREFERENCESPackaging Council of Australia:Packaging Council of Australia:

• www.pca.org.auwww.pca.org.au

Australian Food and Grocery Council:Australian Food and Grocery Council:

• www.afgc.org.auwww.afgc.org.au

Industry Council for Packaging:Industry Council for Packaging:

• www.incpen.orgwww.incpen.org