For products which are heat processed in-pack, the development of 'easy opening' formats that are robust enough to withstand the process can be challenging. Through our experience in designing retort pressure profiles, either at pilot or factory scale, we have been able to advise clients wishing to achieve this crucial aspect of pack-process compatibility. Incorrect pressures can stress the pack during heat processing, making it more susceptible to post-process leakage with a consequent safety or spoilage risk. They can also cause pack distortion, which will affect pack appearance at the point of sale. Misshapen packs handle badly on secondary packaging lines, affecting line speed and process efficiency. We can apply our experience to help you avoid these problems with the range of packs which offer market benefits, but which also present greatest difficulty for processing - such as semi-rigid plastic pots, pouches, cans with peelable lids, and cans with scored metal easy-open features.

Two new projects, with opportunities for member participation, illustrate our commitment to food packaging research and our diverse and growing activities in this area. Companies interested in becoming involved with the projects should contact the project manager shown.

Packaging pasteurisation - July 2008

During hot fill of pasteurised products, the heat released by the product can contribute to a pasteurisation effect on the package. Whilst the requirements for pasteurisation of suitably acid or acidified products are well understood, there is very little guidance on the level of pasteurisation that should be delivered to the pack. A better understanding of this could deliver benefits for companies using hot-fill, including the potential for energy savings if it can be demonstrated that the package does not need to be treated with the same level of process.

The three year member-funded project will explore the microbial flora of packaging and the effectiveness of measurable pasteurisation processes on this. It will culminate in the publication of an industry good practice guide.

Biodegradable packaging - July 2008

The drive for 'sustainability' has increased interest amongst consumers for more environmentally friendly packaging. Use of biodegradable materials is one of the options open to food producers. To use these materials, industry needs guidance and reassurance on issues such as compatibility with the food and the process, functionality, consumer usability and safety. This project is exploring these issues. It will include a published review describing the available materials, suppliers and food packaging applications that have reached the market as well as guidance on suitability of different package types with particular types of food. It will also look at analytical measurements to determine migration of specific compounds from biodegradable materials.