Food Packaging: Regulations, Materials and Machines

Food packaging plays a vital role in preserving quality, ensuring safety, and optimizing logistics. It protects food from contamination, maintains freshness, and enhances shelf appeal. Choosing the right packaging machine and compliant materials is essential.

• Protects food from environmental exposure
• Preserves taste, aroma, and freshness
• Facilitates transport and distribution
• Provides consumer information (ingredients, allergens, etc.)
• Improves presentation and marketability

Packaging materials must comply with European safety standards:

• Regulation EC 450/2009: Defines safety requirements for materials in contact with food
• Regulation EC 2023/2006: Outlines Good Manufacturing Practices

Choosing the right packaging machine helps ensure that the final product is safe, appealing, and durable.

• Vacuum Packaging: Ideal for isolating products from contaminants and prolonging shelf life
• Flow Pack: Great for single product presentation with hermetic seals
• Shrink Wrapping: Heat shrinks the film tightly around the product, offering strong protection and excellent aesthetics

• Assess available space and machine size
• Match machine function to product type (solid, liquid, delicate, etc.)
• Ensure hygiene and ease of cleaning, especially for food contact
• Use user-friendly controls with customizable programs

Vacuum bags:

• Embossed: For domestic use and cooking up to 70°C
• Smooth: For chamber machines and MAP packaging
• Smooth for cooking: For sous-vide and professional kitchens

Shrink film: multilayer polypropylene/polyethylene with high gloss finish

Meat and Fish

Use stainless steel machines for hygiene. Vacuum packaging and MAP are preferred to preserve freshness.

Frozen Products

Packaging must withstand -18°C and protect the product from thawing damage. Shrink and vacuum packaging are ideal.

Fruits and Vegetables

Shrink wrapping enhances appearance and extends marketability. Transparency highlights quality.

Bottles and Jars

Use sleeve wrapping machines to create multipacks with resistant polyethylene film for easier transport and display.

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