Tightening traceability standards for food packaging a top priority for packaging companies, which are addressing the issue in various ways, touting particular benefits of materials such as corrugated boxes, paper bags, clamshells, films

Graziela Medina Shepnick

LOS ANGELES , July 19, 2012 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) –

In food packaging, tightening standards for traceability is a key area of focus for packaging companies, with the issue being addressed differently for the various packaging materials, according to experts, reported The Packer on July 19.

Willoughby, Ohio-based Kennedy Group is working on new technologies to tracking and identifying produce more effective, said Mike Kennedy, the company’s president. Traceability issues are a main concern now, he said.

Preventing cross-contamination is another priority, according to Robert Verloop, executive VP of marketing for Naples, Florida-based Naturipe Farms LLC, The Packer reported.

Clamshells with “more efficient seals and locking systems than ever before” keep the fruit from being touched at the store level, he said.

At Sealed Air Corp., safety covers several levels, said Kari Dawson-Ekeland, marketing director for adjacent markets with the company’s food and beverage division, reported The Packer..

One level of food safety is degradation and another is carefully scrutinizing the packaging process, she said, noting that some films offer superior oxygen transmission so that perforation is not needed, thereby reducing cross-contamination.

Regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also are taking on new importance for packaging materials, said Kellee Harris, spokesperson for Canby, Oregon-based bag maker Package Containers, The Packer reported.

The company’ bags have always been made with FDA-compliant paper because most of the bags are used for bulk produce, she said.

International Paper Co. (IP) touts the advantages of its corrugated boxes, which are more sanitary because they are single-use packaging, said Don Wallace, IP’s director of produce.

Corrugated boxes also meet the requirements of the Produce Traceability Initiative as they allow labels to be attached, he said, reported The Packer.

The primary source of this article is The Packer, Lenexa, Kansas, on July 19, 2012.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.