One of the most important things to remember when it comes to the world of food packaging is that what may seem obvious to those of us in the industry can be a revelation to those working outside of it. That’s due in no small part to the fact that for as ubiquitous as food packing is, most everyday people don’t tend to know too much about it. Food packaging isn’t a topic that is interrogated or examined all that much, and it is instead simply taken for granted. So, why is food packaging important, and what does it mean for you?
1. Preventing Leakage
First and foremost, when it comes to the question of why food packaging is important, it’s vital to consider the alternative. When you don’t have your food properly packaged, it is exposed to the elements, which means that it can start to spoil and rot quickly. Moreover, it can leak – which is a huge problem on several fronts. For one thing, leakage while shipping is a sure-fire way to ensure that the foodstuff in question arrives in a poor state. For another, the actual leakage itself can naturally lead to a sticky, stained, or otherwise unclean area. Then there’s the matter of the law itself. Not having your food properly packaged can be a serious violation of Canadian law, and leakage can be a huge giveaway in this regard. You may find more information and resources from the Flexpak inc Leak Detection website.
2. Protection Against Contamination
In addition to mere leakage, there’s the aforementioned problem of locking in freshness and trying to avoid contamination. While we see foodstuffs including some fruits and vegetables exposed and sold out in the open at some markets, the vast majority of food is packaged so as not to become contaminated. This is especially important when it comes to manufactured food, or food that is not intended to be eaten immediately, but rather to be stored. Defects in the packaging and the consequences thereof can be all too important. For example, a dented soup can has the ability to allow microorganisms to get in and contaminate the contents, which in turn can cause a characteristic bulge beneath the can’s lid or bottom.
3. Labelling Your Items
Why is food packaging important from a marketing standpoint? Simply put, you’re going to want to make sure that clients know what your product is and what its biggest selling points are, and one of the most immediate ways of doing that is via your food packaging. There are countless different selling points that you might wish to mention, each of which can be represented neatly on your foodstuff’s packaging. Besides pure marketing materials, one key bit of information that you’ll need to include are the nutritional facts. These are required by Canadian law, and they are thus a vital part of any food packaging effort. The exception to this rule is, of course, if you are simply shipping food packages to friends and family, rather than as part of a commercial enterprise. Even so, some labelling will still likely be necessary so as to let the post office know what’s in the food parcels in question.
4. Offering Protection for Shipping
Speaking of which, one of the other leading reasons that food packaging is so important is the fact that it can offer quality protection during shipping. This is true for both commercially-viable products as well as personal items shared with friends and family. If you are shipping something that is potentially perishable, companies may make use of specialized thermometers that can be used to make sure that the foodstuff in question remains at a safe temperature during transit.
5. Reducing the Cost
Last but not least, when it comes to food packaging, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re getting quality materials while simultaneously keeping costs down. Whether you are shipping an item to friends or looking to ship food professionally, you’re going to want to make sure that the cost of packaging doesn’t start to become prohibitive. You’ll thus want to make sure that your packaging is not excessive, and thus too expensive.
Ensure that you able to remain in accordance with Canadian law when it comes to selling and shipping food packages by packing them with high-quality food packaging materials and accessories today.