What is Food Packaging? What are the general requirements for packaged food materials?

Food Packaging is the packaging of the food product, to protect from contamination & damage besides conserving taste & quality during the shelf lifeof a food product.

The food packaged material should be made of high quality and it should be free from any chemical contamination. As per FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011, the following type of containers shall deemed to be unfit for human consumption:

Containers with Rust.

Enameled containers which have become chipped or have turned rusty.

Containers made of Copper or Brass are not properly tinned.

Containers made of Aluminium not conforming in chemical composition to IS-20 specifications for the Cast Aluminium & Aluminium Alloy for utensils or IS-21 specification for Wrought Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy for utensils.

Plastic Material Containers being used for food packaging should follow the following Indian Standards Specifications:

a) IS : 10146 (Specification for Polyethylene in contact with Foodstuff.

b) IS : 10142 (Specification for Styrene Polymers in contact with Foodstuffs)

c) IS : 10151 (Specification for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in contact with foodstuffs)

d) IS : 10910 (Specification for Polypropylene in contact with Foodstuffs)

e) IS : 11704 (Specification for Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA) copolymer.

f) IS : 12252 (Specification for Polyalkylene Terephadthalates (PET)

g) IS : 12247 (Specification for Nylon 6 Polymer.

h) IS : 13601 (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)

i) IS : 13576 (Ethylene Metha Acrylic Acid (EMAA)

j) Tin and plastic containers once used, shall not be re-used for packaging of Edible oils and fats.

For Canned Food Products, the following general requirements have to be followed:

a) All containers shall be securely packed and sealed.

b) The exterior of the cans shall be free from major dents, rust, perforations and seam distortions.

c) Cans shall be free from leaks.

FSS Regulations have also defined product specific requirement of the packaged materials which are applicable to certain category of food products.