Active packaging devised for clean label alternative
bakery products retain colour and flavour without the need for
additional additive use or foreign objects in with the product,
according to its manufacturer.
Sealed Air Cooperation says that its latest Cryovac Freshness Plus packaging range, can ensure food quality and safety, while removing the need for an iron-based oxygen scavenging pack to be inserted inside packaging. This feature can help processors to meet requirements for clean labelling in their goods, according to the company. With some consumer concern over using additive and preservatives in food products, the notion of clean label is becoming increasingly important to consumers purchasing habits. To better meet this demand, the range makes use of a polymeric oxygen scavenger within the multilayer film of the packaging, offering a more discreet means of protecting food from mould growth and other effects of oxidisation, without placing foreign objects near the product. As part of the design, Cryovac says that the package can be used effectively for both wet and dry products, with the scavenging action capable of being triggered "on demand" by using an ultra violet light process, patented by the company. Jim Mize, global vice president of new opportunities for Cryovac food packaging claims that Freshness Plus represents a major step for active packaging development, and the company will therefore continue developing the range. "Active packaging technologies effectively reduce the need for food additives and preservatives without compromising a product's shelf-life or freshness," he stated. "They also create an opportunity for cleaner product labels." Freshness Plus can be adapted for use in a number of applications including fresh red meat, processed meats, bakery products and fresh pasta, according to the company. The product is available only within the US, though the company said it was in the process of rolling it out globally.
