Preventing Chemical Contamination in Food Through Safe Packaging

Antimicrobial surface coating material for food packaging that prevents biodegradation and contamination. The coating is made by combining boron compounds like boric acid, disodium octaborate, and sodium pentaborate with gelatin or pectin based materials to create films. The boron derivatives provide antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses when incorporated into the coatings. This prevents spoilage and extends shelf life by inhibiting growth of pathogens on the packaging surfaces. The coatings can be applied as thin films to food containers to provide antimicrobial protection.

Metal detectable plastic bags for sample collection that can be used in food and pharmaceutical production to prevent contamination. The bags have a removable tear strip that contains metallic ink or coating to make it detectable by metal detectors. This allows the strip to be easily removed before filling the bag, preventing metal contamination of the product. The metallic material in the strip can be detected by metal detectors on production lines to prevent contaminated bags from entering the food or pharmaceutical stream.

Laminated films with anti-microbial properties for food packaging that provide effective preservation without compromising food quality. The films have a barrier film sandwiched between transmission films, with a volatile liquid active between them. The active holds the films together at the interface and spreads into the food area to prevent microbial growth. The barrier film prevents oxygen/moisture while the active releases vapors to inhibit spoilage. The films can be manufactured by dispensing the active on the barrier film before lamination, heat sealing, folding, and cutting.

Recyclable multilayer packaging material for containers that can be recycled and has improved chemical resistance compared to existing materials. The packaging is made of multiple layers of polypropylene (PP) bonded together using different adhesives. At least one PP layer is bonded to two neighboring layers using a different adhesive than the others. This configuration prevents delamination when exposed to aggressive filling goods. The different adhesives have different properties like bond strength, water vapor transmission rate, oxygen transmission rate, layer thickness, molecular weight, network structure, chain length, degree of cross-linking, and hydrophobicity. The multilayer packaging can be used for products like pharmaceuticals, home care, aggressive fillings, liquids, foods, and beverages.

Contaminant-resistant packaging and dispensing systems for long-term storage and transportation of perishable items like food in remote areas. The packaging has an oxygen barrier to prevent spoilage, but the dispensing fitment is a weak point. The disclosure describes a contaminant-resistant dispensing fitment with an inner core material having lower oxygen permeability than the outer skin material. This reduces oxygen diffusion into the packaged item through the fitment. The core is enclosed by the skin to form a sealed head at one end and a lumen with an orifice at the other. The core/skin structure provides improved contamination resistance compared to using the skin material alone for the entire fitment.

Coated molded fiber containers for holding food products that provides improved barrier properties for direct food contact applications. The coating composition includes carboxylated polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) copolymer, a crosslinking resin based on epichlorohydrin or azetidinium functional groups, and dispersed clay particles. The coating provides functionality like water vapor barrier, prevents food contamination, prevents coating dissolution in hot water, and prevents migration of oil and grease through the coating. The coating composition can have dry solids ratios of PVOH to crosslinker in the range of 4:1 to 9:1. The coated containers can be used for long-term storage of frozen or dry foods, and microwave heating without degradation or flaking.

Printing inks and coatings suitable for food contact, particularly solvent-based inks comprising organic colourants. The inks and coatings are suitable for food contact applications, particularly for direct food contact applications.

Composite packaging with a mineral oil barrier to prevent migration of mineral oils from recycled containers into packaged products. The barrier is in the inner container that holds the product. It uses a combination of layers - a polyolefin film, an inorganic oxide coating, and a thin layer of vinyl alcohol polymer - to provide a highly effective mineral oil barrier. This allows recycling of the outer container made of recycled material containing mineral oils, while preventing contamination of the inner product from those oils.

Corrugated paperboard inserts for plastic totes used in automated food handling systems. The inserts are designed to handle perishable food items like fruits, vegetables, and meat. They are made from a single sheet of corrugated paperboard with four side walls and an auto-locking bottom that eliminates the need for taping. The paperboard has a moisture-resistant, food contact rated coating on at least one side that is recyclable with standard uncoated corrugated board. This allows the inserts to be used for cleaning and disinfection without requiring additional totes, reducing costs. The coating prevents contamination and spoilage of food products while the inserts are in use, and enables easy cleaning and recycling compared to wax-coated corrugated.

Laminated sheet and packaging body that suppresses adsorption of aromatic compounds like fatty acid esters while maintaining good sealing properties. The laminated sheet has a substrate with a sealant layer containing a crystalline polyester first resin layer and a second resin layer between the first resin and substrate. The crystalline polyester has a crystallization temperature of 120-150°C. This configuration prevents aroma adsorption on the sealant layer while avoiding issues like poor sealing when using crystalline polyesters alone. The innermost layer of the packaging body is formed of the crystalline polyester first resin.

Paper-based packaging material for food containers that has a barrier layer on one side of the paper to prevent contamination or leakage. The barrier layer is applied between the paper and an optically perceptible surface coating. This allows the barrier layer to be removed during recycling without hindering the paper fibers from being recycled.

Antimicrobial surface coating material made from gelatin or pectin films containing boron compounds to prevent contamination and spoilage of packaged foods. The boron derivatives like boric acid, sodium pentaborate, and disodium octaborate are added to the gelatin or pectin films at varying concentrations. The coating material shows antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and candida when applied to food packages. The boron compounds in the films release antimicrobial agents to inactivate pathogens and extend food shelf life.

A multilayered flexible package with antioxidant properties obtained through a core-shell system dispersion. The package has a polymeric coating containing a dispersion of antioxidant capsules with a core-shell structure. The capsules have an antioxidant core and a polymeric shell covering it. The shell covers at least 70% of the core. The capsules are dispersed in the polymeric coating in an amount of 5-50%. The package has a thickness of 0.5-100 μm. The capsules are made from materials like chitosan and tannic acid. The capsules are monodispersed with a size of 0.1-10 μm.

A laminate for packaging materials that provides improved chemical resistance and metallized layer adhesion. The laminate has a multilayer outer film with a polyolefin layer sandwiched between two barrier layers, and a multilayer middle film with a polyolefin layer sandwiched between two barrier layers. The outer film has a metallized polyolefin layer, and the middle film has a metallized polyolefin layer. The barrier layers provide improved chemical resistance.

A film composite for flexible packaging that has a barrier layer to protect the imprinted cover film from fat migration. The barrier layer is formed from polyvinyl alcohol and is applied to the cover film. An equalization layer is applied between the cover film and the barrier layer to compensate for the uneven surface caused by the imprinting. The equalization layer is made from a hardened material like polyurethane.

A closure system for containers like flexible pouches with a cap and spout that have discrete barrier layers to prevent contamination of the contents. The spout has a conduit and seal member secured to the container. The cap encloses the conduit. The cap and spout each have an inner barrier layer and an outer thermoplastic layer. This provides a multi-barrier system to block oxygen, moisture, and contaminants from entering the pouch.

A sustainable packaging material that replaces HIPS and PVdC in food packaging. The material has a unique synergy of components that provides various advantages like oxygen and moisture barrier, hot fill capability, trimability, oil resistance, acidic resistance, toughness, and heat sealing capability. The material is formed from layers of polymer blends that have a specific heterophasic morphology. The layers are coated with a barrier coating to improve the barrier properties.

Recyclable lined molded fiber food containers that provide improved oil resistance, water resistance, and water vapor barrier for refrigerated and frozen foods compared to traditional molded fiber containers. The containers are lined with a thermoformable cellulose-based acetate film instead of petroleum-based films. The film is bonded to the molded fiber using suction to form a continuous liner. The cellulose-based acetate film avoids PFAs and provides similar performance to PET liners. The molded fiber base is made from virgin bagasse fiber pulp for sustainability. The lined molded fiber containers can hold oil and water better than plain molded fiber, making them suitable for food applications.

A thermoplastic film for packaging that has one or both surfaces coated with a composition containing lauric arginate ethyl ester (LAE) without any polymer. The LAE coating provides antimicrobial properties to prevent contamination of packaged foods. The coating composition can be a dispersion of LAE in a water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and ethyl acetate mixture. The coated film can be used to make flexible containers, vacuum skin packages, lidded packages, and wrapped packages for food products.

Water-soluble film that has improved barrier against diffusion of undesired chemicals (even water vapour) prior to being thoroughly immersed in water, yet can subsequently substantially dissolve or disperse when immersed in water, such as rinse water or wash water. The film comprises an integrated water-dispersible barrier against any permeation offering several advantages compared to prior-art water-soluble film executions; and a method for producing water-soluble films with an integrated water-dispersible barrier against any permeation.