Regulatory agencies that monitor food and beverage production require the use of food-grade materials at any point that the material may contact food. Packaging is no exception to these rules, leading to the development of food-safe plastics for use in packaging consumable products. Food-grade plastics follow stringent, government-monitored manufacturing processes to ensure they are safe for food contact.
Regulatory agencies that monitor food and beverage production require the use of food-grade materials at any point that the material may contact food. Packaging is no exception to these rules, leading to the development of food-safe plastics for use in packaging consumable products. Food-grade plastics follow stringent, government-monitored manufacturing processes to ensure they are safe for food contact.
Numerous plastics are approved for food contact, leading to their use as food packaging. This article will discuss the different types of food-grade plastic used in the packaging sector.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
PET is relatively ubiquitous, used in soft drink and single-use water bottles, as well as food-grade containers, bakery trays, snack packs, produce containers, and more. PET resin won’t degrade upon food contact, which makes it a popular choice for food packaging. Some other beneficial properties of PET include lightweight, high impact resistance, corrosion resistance and very commonly recycled.
Crystallizable Polyethylene Terephthalate (CPET)
CPET has undergone a process to make it more resistant to high temperature and cracking when it experiences impacts at low temperatures, which is a common drawback of some standard PET plastic containers. CPET is a great option for applications that are required to withstand higher temperatures, making it appropriate for use with conventional and microwaveable ovens. CPET has a natural high barrier making it ideal for modified atmosphere packaging and vacuum skin packed products such as microwavable dinners. CPET is also commonly used for ready-to-eat meals, frozen foods and baked goods.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a common packaging material used for products ranging from prescription bottles to garden tools and automotive products. However, is polypropylene food safe? The answer is yes! In particular, polypropylene is an ideal food-safe plastic for food production processes that require high heat. While fairly stiff, polypropylene is not as brittle as other common food packaging plastics. Food items that utilize polypropylene for packaging include yogurt, cream cheese/sour cream containers, ready-to-eat meals, and VSP containers. Polypropylene has also gained popularity for microwavable containers thanks to its high melting point.
Plastic Films
Plastic films are a type of flexible packaging that offers vastly different qualities based on the material from which they are made. Some of the most common structures include lidding film, shrink wrap, VSP film, stand-up pouches, and specialty bags. In general, plastic film has many benefits. It is typically lightweight and resistant to contamination. Most plastic films can be printed on, helping to improve brand recognition and aesthetics.
