Tech Talk

Convenient packaging

Packaging is an art done not only to improve presentation of an F&B product but also to increase its shelf life and maintain its quality and hygiene. Praveen K Singh finds out how packaging plays the part of a silent salesperson for a product.

Graduating from an art, packaging has evolved with advance technology today to be used extensively in food processing industries. The storage and packaging requirements of a restaurant are different from other industries simply because the packed and stored material is meant for human consumption.

Rajiv Dhar, director of Indian Institute of Packaging, says, "A major change has been the ability to protect and preserve products that are out of season with packaging or extend its shelf life over long distances in various forms - fresh as well as processed." He explains that a package design has so much to offer in terms of attraction, reassurance and persuasion, each of which helps to contribute towards making the purchase decision. "Mute and motionless, successful packaging through labeling must clearly communicate an intelligent message to the passing and busy consumer. Without a shot being fired and with nothing more than the silent appeal of its appearance," he says.

Adding value

The size of the semi-processed and ready-to-eat packaged food industry is over Rs 4,000 crore (US $1 billion) and is growing at the rate of 22 per cent. Domestic production of food processing and packaging equipment is expected to grow at an average of 30 per cent in the next few years to supply this growing market. The importance of packaging can be understood from the role it is playing vis-à-vis branding for a product. Dhar adds, "Packaging is always developed on the basis that it would help to preserve the nutritional value and taste of food products. Moreover, the distribution of the same to consumers is greatly facilitated."

Food safety

Food safety is the most important rider for good packaging. Convinced by this fact, most companies are going for an improvised way to sell a product in the market. The packing of a product has become a centre of attention.

Some manufacturers use a variety of tamper-evident packaging such as vacuum-sealed pop-ups and special seals to indicate if a food package has been damaged or tampered with. Foods in dented cans or punctured wraps should not be served as the food may have become contaminated with harmful microorganisms.

Research into the best and safest ways to package foods has progressed considerably in recent years. In particular, a lot of research has been undertaken into the best choice of packaging materials for different foods and packaging and the environmental impact of different packaging material.

There is a difference in the meaning of packing and packaging, but somehow are used interchangeably without understanding the two. A lot of thought nowadays is given to the way products, especially the perishable ones, are made available to the market, i.e. on their packing apart from its packaging as a beneficial product.

The Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 aims to integrate the food safety laws in the country in order to systematically and scientifically develop the food processing industry and shift from a regulatory regime to self-compliance. As part of the process of consolidation, the Act proposes to repeal eight existing laws related to food safety.

The importance of the act is that it lays down that it is science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import. The impending Integrated Food Law will deal with all packaged and processed food.

The tetra pack

The Tetra Pak name over the years has now become a synonym for good packing for perishable products. Surekha Poddar of Petals Packaging says, "But for sure, tetra pak as a packing concept helps to fulfill the various guidelines for packing of edible perishable products."

The packaging industry always had numerous challenges to cope up with. When it comes to packaged food, the focus is undoubtedly on the food apart from the packaging aspect. In other cases, there is scope for leniency but for food products, it has to be according to norms etched by food authorities. She adds, "Processing and packaging expertise in the food sector has become vital in terms of food service business in retail trade too."

Slim and aluminium foils

Slim and aluminium foils are one of those technologies, which are considered as an ultimate solution of all kind of packing and storage requirements. It provides a wide range of packing possibilities like fruits, sweets, cooked food, plated dishes, non-vegetarian items, etc.

Explains Roop Chand of Hind Paper House, a foil manufacturer, "The best quality aluminium foils are available with in 8 - 9 and 10-12 microns, which are suitable for several different purposes." Aluminium foils are also used for cooking and marinating purposes. They can withstand extreme heat inside the ovens and microwaves to make items like garlic bread. Nowadays, foils are also being used by restaurants for the decorative packing of foods.

These are decorative due to their luster. They make attractive packets and are easy to use. They are reaction proof, heat proof, and moisture proof and cannot be coloured. Also there is no chance of colours reacting with food.

Growing usage

With time, industry look for convenience and of late it has been observed there is scope for better preservation of processed food. Thus, packaging is going through a revolutionary change where even users are approving the benefit of carton-ed products and picking the same with assurance, even if that comes with a thoughtful price tag.

However, minister for food processing industries, Subodh Kant Sahai, says, "The packaged food products have been slow in penetrating the large potential presented by India's 250 million strong middle class. But due to growing urbanisation and changing food habits, the demand has been rising at a good pace and there is enough latent market potential waiting to be exploited through development."