Packaging is meant to be protective, first and foremost. It protects products not only from breaking — in the case of products like medical devices and pharmaceutical medication — but being contaminated as well. Food packaging equipment plays an important role in our consumption of food. You couldn’t be sure that your food is safe unless it’s been properly packaged. Some of the most effective types of food packaging containers include vacuum pouches, as well as, of course, shrink sleeves. In some cases, of course, shrink sleeves are not enough. That is why x-ray food inspection is used at times. Consider it an insurance policy, used largely when there is the concern of metal contamination, or the presence of unwanted objects. With that being said, packaging like shrink sleeves is usually an effective means of keeping food safe. But what kinds of food can you expect to see in shrink sleeves? The list is diverse, in part because shrink sleeves can conform to the shape of the food it is supposed to contain. To better understand how this packaging works — and how important it is — let’s look into some of the types of food that are often packaged with shrink sleeves.
1. Meats
The fact is that meat is one of the most popular types of food in the world. Whether or not you eat meat, know that a huge amount of people of all ages do. Therefore, it’s extremely important that all meats are properly packaged. Shrink packaging is arguably the most effective type of packaging for meat, largely because it can shrink around the shape of the meat. Cuts of meat all vary, and thus cannot be packaging in a uniform way. The packaging needs to be individually made for each piece of meat, especially when the meat in question is a steak or pork loin, for example. Of course, that isn’t the only reason why shrink packaging is so important to consider when packaging meat. Meat also has a tendency to spoil after a certain amount of time, and can be contaminated by bacteria and even insects. Contamination or spoiling not only ruins the quality of the meat, but makes it very dangerous to eat. Spoiled meat isn’t always immediately obvious to the eye, but it can cause severe illness and in the case of already-sick people or young children, even death.
2. Cheese
Cheese, like meat, needs to be shrink packaged in most cases. Cheese may not seem like a moist product at first glance — but the fact is that it is actually a very moist, liquid-based product. Therefore, cheese is, like meat, very susceptible to spoiling. Perhaps cheese is even more likely to spoil than meat! Most of us think that we can recognize spoiled cheese, but not all cheeses show immediate signs of spoiling. Of course, it’s much safer to prevent spoiling entirely — and that will save you from wasting your money on spoiled cheese! Shrink packaging allows cheese to retain its flavor and composition, while remaining safe to eat and untainted. As such, it comes highly recommended as a form of packaging. But the risk of spoiling isn’t the only reason why this kind of packaging is used to contain food products. The food product below is unlikely to spoil so easily, but still benefits from shrink packaging.
3. Sauces
Sauces, unlike meats and cheese, usually come already cooked. Therefore, it is more likely to keep for a bit longer than meats and cheeses, if not forever. The reason why shrink packaging is so useful in packaging this product has a lot to do with its unique ability to seal in flavor. Sauces are utilized exactly because of their flavor. Therefore, if you want to buy sauces, it’s best to buy them shrink packaged. You’ll get the best flavor payoff, and as is the case with the products mentioned above, you’ll be most assured about the quality what you’re buying.
