Have you ever done grocery shopping? If so, you have seen the
enormous food container models which are in the market today.
Before vacuum packaging and food containers came into the food
industry, people used other means and methods to store and
preserve food.
Salting, pickling, bottling, and drying are among the most
common methods of traditional food storage. Later on, when
refrigerators came into the mass market, people used containers
to store and preserve food.
Food storage is a process which has domestic and industrial
importance. Its purposes include preparedness for famine and
special events, taking advantage of food surplus during
harvesting time, creating a balanced diet, and planning for an
emergency.
It is helpful to have stocked enough supply of food when
catastrophes such as floods occur. It is also a comforting
knowledge to have enough food supply to last until the next
harvest time.
Containers play an important role in the storage and
preservation of food. Grain products can be stored in tight and
sealed containers to lessen the moisture that attacks them. This
also prevents the accumulation of molds and vermin.
These food products are also better stored in sealed containers
than in sacks which can encourage the growth of bacteria. Fruits
can be wrapped in paper and stored in box containers to last
months of storage. Meat can be salted and placed in plastic
containers for later storage in refrigerators.
Commercial food storage using containers also promotes physical
protection of the product. For efficiency, smaller food items
can also be stored together in one package to facilitate easier
storage. Containers also help in the easy and hygienic marketing
of food products.
The commonly used containers and packaging materials in the
market today include corrugated cardboards, wood wool, jute
sacks, paper, plastics, wood, and bubble wrap.
The type of material is chosen based on the value of the
product, the product's sensitivity, expected damages, size of
the product, weight of the product, and the shipping method to
be used.
These materials are then created into different types of
packaging and containers which include boxes, pallets, bottles,
bags, cans, cartons, wrappers, blister packs, vacuum packs, and
aseptic packages.
Other special containers use a mix of technologies for optimum
durability. These can be bags in a box, which is usually used
for bottled products; or bags in boxes which are used for soda
drinks.
Today, food storage and preservation has come a long way from
how it used to be ages ago. Most kitchens now are equipped with
refrigerators for cold storage, and other containers holding
food products.
Food manufacturers have also become very innovative in the
presentation of their food products. Their food containers are
the reflection of their products' individuality. Poorly-packaged
food is prone to spoilage and is an easy breeding ground for
many bacteria and viruses which are lethal to humans.
As food safety and hygiene became a concern among consumers,
more and more containers are being manufactured and used to
comply with these demands. Different governments from different
countries have also set their own standards with which food
manufacturers comply.
Food containers in supermarkets now display a lot of information
to satisfy cunning consumers. These can include cooking time,
number of servings, "display by" and "use by" dates, nutritional
information, weight in kilograms, freezing and storage
instructions, manufacturer name, and a barcode.
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