Food Packaging Considerations

There are many things that need thinking about when the right food packaging is being chosen. There are legal, practical, safety and cost issues to

consider.

Packaging needs to offer protection, although the specific factors are dependent on the product. The product needs to be held within the packaging china, for

example in cannot leak. It can't rip or break easily so needs to be strong enough, and might need to protect against temperature.
Food has to be labeled by law, although again the specific laws vary between different items. Below is the information that may need to be included on
labeling:
Name of the product
Ingredients
Nutritional information
Instructions for use
Storage conditions
Place of origin
Warnings
Best before date
Use by date
Some types of products need to be child protected so they cannot be easily opened by children. This means certain items may have safety mechanisms. Whatever

the product the safety of the packaging itself must be considered; for example it can't be too sharp so it is easy for it to cause injury. The packaging

must also not impact the safety of the food negatively, so it cannot contaminate the product, for example ink leakage into the food must be avoided.

Distribution needs to be taken into consideration when packaging so products are easier to distribute. This can not only save on work but, in the long run,

can save on costs.

The way that food looks in its packaging is important to retailers. They obviously want to sell as much as possible and packaging can be used as a marketing

tool to make it seem appealing.

Like everything in business, cost always needs to be thought about. The cheaper packaging is the better, but all the above factors also need considering.

Packaging needs to be affordable so a decent profit can be made post-sale.

Different types of food need different types of packaging. Below are some examples.

For meat and fish products contamination is an important issue. Contaminating other products can cause health issues so must be avoided at all costs,

whether it is being transported, is on the shop shelves, is in the customer's shopping basket, or in the customer's home. Meat and fish packaging is often

see-through so it looks attractive and customers can see what they are buying.
Drinks and other liquids are sold in cans or bottles. These are secure and prevent leakage. Certain drinks need to remains fresh while others might react

badly with certain materials. It is also important the packaging stays in line with customer expectations. For example, you won't find wine in a plastic

bottle, while water won't appear in a can.

The practicality of packaging for frozen foods needs thinking about. Due to where they will be placed (in the freezers) the packaging can't be negatively

affected by the cold by causing it to soak through or break in any way.

There are many things that need thinking about when choosing packaging suppliers. Different foods require different packaging, while any safety issues and

cost issues need consideration.