ABSTRACT

Packaging is increasingly recognized as an important factor in protecting and controlling the quality and safety of cheese, as well as in addressing consumer issues. Cheese is not an inert product: it will continue to ripen after packaging, and the packaging should ideally not interfere with the natural maturation process, and at the same time it should increase the cheese’s shelf life. The balance between these two requirements, and the complex and naturally changing nature of the product, makes cheese packaging design a challenging task.