How to Choose Polyethylene Food Bags for Dry Goods, Frozen Goods, and Greasy Foods?
In the food packaging industry, subtle performance differences often determine whether a product stands out in the market. Selecting polyethylene food bags is not only a science but also a technical decision requiring in-depth expertise.
As a provider of customized flexible packaging solutions, MTPAK provides a practical guide to selecting materials, from material properties to application scenarios, to help brands find the optimal balance between quality and competitiveness.
Why does the selection of PE food bags require a scientific approach?
Food packaging is an important part of the food safety system. An unqualified PE food bag may cause food deterioration, loss of nutrients, and even migration of harmful substances.
According to research, improper packaging materials will shorten the shelf life of food by more than 30%. Therefore, the selection of PE materials needs to comprehensively consider multiple factors such as food characteristics, storage conditions, transportation links, and sales environment.
Each variable will affect the final performance of packaging materials, which requires a systematic evaluation method.
How to accurately select polyethylene materials based on food characteristics?
High-density PE materials with uniform molecular weight distribution should be selected for high-fat foods (such as fried foods and nuts). This kind of material has better oil resistance and barrier, and can effectively prevent oil oxidation and flavor loss. It is recommended to select the composite structure with a special barrier layer.
Acidic foods (such as juices and sauces) require materials with excellent chemical stability. Specially treated PE materials should be selected, and their additives should be formulated to resist the erosion of acidic substances and prevent packaging aging and chemical migration.
Frozen food needs linear low-density PE (LLDPE) with excellent low-temperature resistance. This kind of material can still maintain flexibility and impact resistance at -40 ℃ and avoid embrittlement during freezing and transportation.
Fresh agricultural products need a microporous PE membrane with moderate permeability. By accurately controlling the pore size and distribution and adjusting the gas composition in the package, the shelf period can be prolonged. The oxygen transmittance is usually controlled at 5000-10000cc/m ² / day.
Food safety certification is the basic threshold. All PE food bags must pass the FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 or EU 10/2011 certification and provide a complete declaration of conformity. Especially for children's food packaging, it is also necessary to meet more stringent requirements on the limit of heavy metals and plasticizers.
In addition, migration test reports are essential. According to the EU Regulation (EC) NO 1935/2004, a comprehensive migration test is required, including the overall migration volume (no more than 10mg/dm ²) and the specific migration limit test. For foods of different properties, the test conditions are also different.
At present, sustainable development is becoming increasingly important. Choosing a single material structure with a recyclable design or using certified recycled PE materials (such as post-consumer recycled PE certified by the FDA) can enhance the environmental protection value of products.
Last but not least, the label identification specification must be followed. Including food contact marks, recycling marks (No. 4 LDPE or No. 2 HDPE), instructions for use, etc., all need to comply with the regulatory requirements of the place of sale to avoid the resulting market access problems.
Conclusion
A food packaging bag is the "second skin" of food. Its importance lies not only in containing and protecting products, but also in preventing chemical migration, microbial pollution, and the impact of the external environment.
When selecting PE food bags, it is recommended to adopt a systematic evaluation method: first, define the food characteristics and protection needs, then determine the requirements of key performance parameters, then evaluate the technical capacity and quality system of suppliers, and finally carry out actual tests and verification. Remember, the most expensive may not be the most suitable, but the cheapest may hide quality and safety risks.
FAQ
Q1: How to judge the food safety of PE food bags?
The supplier is required to provide the declaration of conformity of food contact materials and relevant test reports. The most important tests include the overall migration test, the heavy metal content test, and the specific migration test (if applicable).
Q2: Can PE food bags be used for microwave heating?
PE food bags that need to be specially marked with "microwave safety" can be used for microwave heating. Ordinary PE bags may not be able to withstand microwave high temperatures, which may cause deformation or melting. Specially designed microwave heating packaging is recommended.
Q3: What kind of PE food bag is more suitable for frozen food?
LLDPE material with good impact resistance at low temperatures shall be selected, and the thickness shall be appropriately increased to improve the tear resistance. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the heat sealing strength is still intact at low temperatures.
Q4: How to improve the sustainability of PE food bags?
Choose a single material structure with a recyclable design, reduce the use of ink and additives, or use materials containing recycled PE. At the same time, it can optimize the packaging size and reduce the material consumption.
Q5: Can MTPAK provide customized PE food bags in small batches?
Yes. We provide flexible, customized services to meet different needs, from sample production to mass production. Our engineering team will help you find the most suitable solution.
If you need to customize a polyethylene material high-performance food packaging bag, please contact MTPAK for free material consultation and exclusive solution samples to experience the difference of professional customization.
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