ABSTRACT
As mentioned in the previous chapters, freezing food is one of the best ways of preserving the fresh quality of foods [1-6]. All the efforts of food production and processing can be lost if the food is not properly packaged and distributed. Frozen food packaging needs to be able to withstand the
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 711 Basic Functions, Forms, and Levels of Packaging ........................................................................ 712
Functions ................................................................................................................................... 712 Containment ......................................................................................................................... 712 Protection ............................................................................................................................. 713 Communication .................................................................................................................... 713 Providing Convenience ......................................................................................................... 713 Reducing Environmental Impact .......................................................................................... 713
Forms ......................................................................................................................................... 714 Materials .................................................................................................................................... 715
Paperboard ............................................................................................................................ 715 Plastics .................................................................................................................................. 716 Corrugated Paperboard ......................................................................................................... 717 Metal ..................................................................................................................................... 719 Susceptor Materials .............................................................................................................. 719
Distribution ............................................................................................................................... 720 Design ....................................................................................................................................... 720 Machinery and Printing ............................................................................................................. 721
Regulations and Environmental Consideration .............................................................................. 721 Regulations ................................................................................................................................ 721 Environmental Considerations .................................................................................................. 723
Reduction in Resources ........................................................................................................724 Reuse ....................................................................................................................................724 Recycle .................................................................................................................................724 Incineration with Energy Recovery ...................................................................................... 725 Composting/Biodegradability .............................................................................................. 725
Trends in Frozen Food Packaging .................................................................................................. 726 Self-Venting Steamer Packages ................................................................................................. 726 Intelligent Packaging ................................................................................................................. 726 Nonthermal Food Processing Techniques in Combination with Freezing ................................ 727
Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 727 References ...................................................................................................................................... 728
temperatures to which the product is exposed and the handling and physical abuse that it may experience, and to protect the product from quality problems such as freezer burn or color fading. It must also provide convenience to the consumer, retailer, and distribution cycle. A wide variety of materials are used as well as packaging machinery and design features. Laws and regulations that apply to all food packaging as well as environmental issues will be covered. Some of the important developments in frozen food packaging can be found in Table 32.1.
