Ensuring the quality and safety of meat products is paramount in the food industry. Packaging plays a crucial role in preserving product integrity and extending shelf life. This article explores two case studies involving meat product packaging issues and highlights the importance of comprehensive testing to identify underlying causes and develop effective solutions.
Case Study 1: Ready-to-Eat Chicken
The first case involved ready-to-eat chicken packaged in aluminum composite material. Bag inflation and mildew were observed, indicating compromised barrier properties, flex durability, and seal strength.
Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR): This test measures the rate at which oxygen permeates the packaging material, affecting product oxidation and spoilage.
OTR after Flex: This test evaluates the impact of flexing the packaging on its barrier properties, which is important for handling and transportation.
Labthink C203H Oxygen Transmission Rate Test System is based on Coulometric oxygen analysis sensor and equal pressure test method, and is conforming to ASTM D 3985 and other standards. It provides high-precision and high-efficiency oxygen permeability tests for high and medium gas barrier materials. It is suitable for testing the oxygen permeability of thin films, sheets and related materials in the fields of food, medicine, medical devices, daily chemical, photovoltaic, electronic and other fields.
Leak Test: This test determines the packaging's airtightness under vacuum conditions.
Heat-Seal Strength: This test measures the strength of the heat-sealed seams, ensuring proper closure and preventing leakage.
Labthink C660B Leak and Seal Strength Tester is professionally designed for the leakage tests of packages for food, drugs, medical instruments, household chemical products, cars, electronic components, stationeries and other industrial products. The instrument also can be used to test seal performance of specimens after falling and compression tests
The results indicated good heat-seal strength but poor flex durability and barrier properties. Flexing the packaging caused pinholes to appear and increased OTR. Additionally, the bag was found to have low airtightness, leaking under vacuum pressure.
Case Study 2: Vacuum-Bagged Sausage
In the second case, vacuum-bagged sausages experienced bag inflation during storage, despite being within their shelf life. This issue was attributed to the low flex durability and high brittleness of the composite packaging material.
To investigate these properties, the following tests were conducted:
Pendulum Impact Test: This test measures the packaging material's resistance to impact, which is crucial for preventing punctures and tears.
Breaking Force and Elongation at Break: These tests evaluate the material's tensile strength and flexibility, respectively.
The results revealed that the packaging film's resistance to pendulum impact was lower than the industry average, indicating high brittleness. Additionally, the low elongation at break, particularly in the horizontal direction, suggested poor flex durability.
Conclusion
By conducting comprehensive testing and analyzing the results, it is possible to identify the underlying causes of packaging-related issues in meat products. The case studies presented in this article demonstrate the importance of evaluating factors such as flex durability, barrier properties, and seal strength. By addressing these issues through material selection, process optimization, or design modifications, packaging can be effectively tailored to meet the specific needs of meat products and ensure their quality and safety.
As the demand for functional packaging materials grows, testing methods are evolving to ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of packaging films. Labthink encourages collaboration with packaging industry companies for quality control! Visit the website www.labthink.com to learn more!
Case Study 1: Ready-to-Eat Chicken
The first case involved ready-to-eat chicken packaged in aluminum composite material. Bag inflation and mildew were observed, indicating compromised barrier properties, flex durability, and seal strength.
Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR): This test measures the rate at which oxygen permeates the packaging material, affecting product oxidation and spoilage.
OTR after Flex: This test evaluates the impact of flexing the packaging on its barrier properties, which is important for handling and transportation.
Labthink C203H Oxygen Transmission Rate Test System is based on Coulometric oxygen analysis sensor and equal pressure test method, and is conforming to ASTM D 3985 and other standards. It provides high-precision and high-efficiency oxygen permeability tests for high and medium gas barrier materials. It is suitable for testing the oxygen permeability of thin films, sheets and related materials in the fields of food, medicine, medical devices, daily chemical, photovoltaic, electronic and other fields.
Leak Test: This test determines the packaging's airtightness under vacuum conditions.
Heat-Seal Strength: This test measures the strength of the heat-sealed seams, ensuring proper closure and preventing leakage.
Labthink C660B Leak and Seal Strength Tester is professionally designed for the leakage tests of packages for food, drugs, medical instruments, household chemical products, cars, electronic components, stationeries and other industrial products. The instrument also can be used to test seal performance of specimens after falling and compression tests
The results indicated good heat-seal strength but poor flex durability and barrier properties. Flexing the packaging caused pinholes to appear and increased OTR. Additionally, the bag was found to have low airtightness, leaking under vacuum pressure.
Case Study 2: Vacuum-Bagged Sausage
In the second case, vacuum-bagged sausages experienced bag inflation during storage, despite being within their shelf life. This issue was attributed to the low flex durability and high brittleness of the composite packaging material.
To investigate these properties, the following tests were conducted:
Pendulum Impact Test: This test measures the packaging material's resistance to impact, which is crucial for preventing punctures and tears.
Breaking Force and Elongation at Break: These tests evaluate the material's tensile strength and flexibility, respectively.
The results revealed that the packaging film's resistance to pendulum impact was lower than the industry average, indicating high brittleness. Additionally, the low elongation at break, particularly in the horizontal direction, suggested poor flex durability.
Conclusion
By conducting comprehensive testing and analyzing the results, it is possible to identify the underlying causes of packaging-related issues in meat products. The case studies presented in this article demonstrate the importance of evaluating factors such as flex durability, barrier properties, and seal strength. By addressing these issues through material selection, process optimization, or design modifications, packaging can be effectively tailored to meet the specific needs of meat products and ensure their quality and safety.
As the demand for functional packaging materials grows, testing methods are evolving to ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of packaging films. Labthink encourages collaboration with packaging industry companies for quality control! Visit the website www.labthink.com to learn more!
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