Food packaging science will accelerate further in 2023 as food and packaging supplies continue to be threatened by war, famine, natural disasters, and global-localization imbalances. On the positive side, this investment in food pack- aging science will optimize food distribution, ad- dress food justice, and prevent more food waste. This lowers our food system’s environmental and social impact, said Sand, which is progress. Sands shares five predictions for food packaging science in 2023: 1. Antimicrobial packaging gets normalized Antimicrobial packaging has been used for many years in the food packaging industry. They are used to extend the shelf life of: • Berries (sulfur dioxide to inhibit mold); • Bread and fruits (nisin, cinnamon, SoFresh, and lower carbon-chain fatty acids to inhibit mold growth); and • Poultry (zinc oxide, grapefruit seed extract, oregano to inhibit Listeria). The year 2023 will showcase antimicrobial pack- aging to prevent food waste further, improve food safety, and extend supply chains. As a result of Covid-19, consumers are more comfortable with Packaging Breakthroughs (Cont’d from Page 1)
antimicrobials and consumers are prepared for clear label communication on how antimicrobial packaging can retain the shelf life of the foods they purchase. 2. Intelligent packaging aligns Intelligent packaging takes many shapes. Of these, pH-reliant intelligent packaging is, according to Sand, a simple way to assess food quality and safety. This is because pH is both an indicator of and re- strictor of bacteria growth, and because some bac- teria cannot grow at specific pHs, microbial growth alters the pH. Major progress has been made in packaging that contains pH indicators within the film structure or as a label. Interestingly, anthocy- anins extracted from foods are used in indicators and can be applied with an inkjet printer. Imagine retailers printing labels on deli-wrapped meat to communicate the product’s shelf life to consumers. 3. Right-sizing, package design focused on consumer Price-Pack architecture has hit many categories, such as candy, cereal, and cookies. However, this resizing has not connected yet with other categories.
(Cont’d on Page 5)
Take the pain out of selecting the right product Picking the best inking system or parts washer for your pressroom can be confusing. We’ll make sure that the products you order decrease downtime, clean your parts and keep your pressroom running efficiently. We speak your language and understand your needs. We may have 10,000 choices in our catalog - but there’s only one solution for you. You Don’t Make Money When Your Press Isn’t Running!
January 16, 2023 3
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker