Food Packaging

Food packaging

Food packaging is not just a means to storing the food. It's a marketing tool as well. A well designed food package will influence buyers to purchase a product and increase product recognition through image. Adding special features to food and beverage packaging is another way to influence consumers to purchase a product over another.

Food packaging requires also protection, tampering resistance, and special physical, chemical, or biological needs. It also shows the product that is labeled to show any nutrition information on the food being consumed.

Packaging has several objectives:

* Physical protection - The food enclosed in the package may require protection from, among other things, shock, vibration, compression, temperature, etc.

* Barrier protection - A barrier from oxygen, water vapor, dust, etc., to control atmospheres and to keep the contents clean, fresh, and safe.

* Agglomeration - Small items are typically grouped together in one package for reasons of efficiency.

* Information transmission - Packages and labels communicate how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose of the package or product. Some types of information are required by governments.

* Security - Packaging can play an important role in reducing the security risks of shipment. Packages can be made with improved tamper resistance to deter tampering and also can have tamper-evident features to help indicate tampering.

* Convenience - Packages can have features which add convenience in distribution, handling, stacking, display, sale, opening, reclosing, use, and reuse.

* Portion control - Single serving packaging has a precise amount of contents to control usage. Bulk commodities (such as salt) can be divided into packages that are a more suitable size for individual households.

This document comes from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_packaging...