All about Food Grade Packaging

According to FSSAI, Food Grade Packaging material describes a material made up of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use, and shall not endanger human health or result in an unacceptable change in the composition of the food or its organoleptic characteristics and also should not transfer harmful or toxic substances into the food.

The primary objective of packaging is to protect the food contents from microbiological, chemical, physical and atmospheric contamination and preserve the food and thereby protect consumer’s health.

Food grade, quality packaging also ensures that there is no change in sensory properties or composition of food when packed. Packaging is essential and critical for promoting food safety, extended shelf-life and thereby enhancing food security.

Examples of few Food Packaging Materials

Metals – aluminium, foils, laminates, tin plates, tin free Metallized films
Paper and paper boards – Kraft paper, sulphite paper, grease proof paper, glassine paper, parchment paper, white board
Plastics – poly olefins, polyesters, polycarbonate, PEN, PET, EVOH, PVC, polyamide, laminates, co-extrusions, biodegradable plastics
Glass

What is Migration?

Sometimes, food packaging material can be a source of chemical food contaminants. Simply, the transfer of chemical contaminants from food contact materials into the food can be called as Migration.

Bisphenol A, tributyltin, triclosan, and phthalates, dioxins, formaldehyde are harmful chemicals reported to leach from food packaging and are posing harmful effects to public health especially children. Hence this food grade packaging finds its place in terms of ensuring food safety and driving the food industry towards it.

Migration process depends on several factors including -

The physico-chemical properties of the migrant, of the packaging material, and the food
Temperature
Time of storage
Size of packaging in proportion to the food stuff volume – smaller size packaging has a larger surface to volume ratio.