Food packaging history and innovations.
Food packaging has evolved from simply a container to hold food to something today that can play an active role in food quality. Many packages are still simply containers, but they have properties that have been developed to protect the food. These include barriers to oxygen, moisture, and flavors. Active packaging, or that which plays an active role in food quality, includes some microwave packaging as well as packaging that has absorbers built in to remove oxygen from the atmosphere surrounding the product or to provide antimicrobials to the surface of the food. Packaging has allowed access to many foods year-round that otherwise could not be preserved. It is interesting to note that some packages have actually allowed the creation of new categories in the supermarket. Examples include microwave popcorn and fresh-cut produce, which owe their existence to the unique packaging that has been developed.
Risch
Sara J
SJ
Science by Design, East Lansing, Michigan 48823, USA.
D019649:Food Industry / Q000266:history; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005898:Glass; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D007881:Legislation, Food / Q000266:history; D008670:Metals; D010969:Plastics; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
D008670:Metals; D010969:Plastics