2A+Alyssa


 * F OOD P ACKAGING **

Food packaging comes in several different forms. Each form has its own advantages and disadvantages. Depending on which level of packaging –primary, secondary and tertiary (or transit)– we must consider which form of packaging best suits the food type when undergoing transportation, storage and preparation as to ensure that the food is safe for consumption and free from damage. Aluminium, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and glass are three of the most commonly used in food packaging.



A LUMINIUM

Aluminium is used to package food in various ways. Its common uses are:
 * Canned products
 * Soups
 * Drinks
 * Aluminium foils & wraps
 * Chocolates
 * Biscuit & crisp packets
 * Fast food containers

Aluminium provides protection during and storage from gas, moisture, microorganisms, rodents and insects. Its ability to withstand heating process allows producers to sterilise aluminium cans before use. Moreover, they provide an airtight seal, are stackable, tamper-proof and inexpensive to produce.

As aluminium is generally used as primary packing –meaning it makes contact with the food itself– this contact between the food and aluminium can cause issues. With aluminium cans, contamination can occur if it becomes dented. This is due to the internal coating breaking and allowing the aluminium to leach into the product. This leach causes various health issues as aluminium, when consumed, accumulates in the body tissue. Few causes of aluminium contamination are:
 * Alzheimer’s disease, as neurotoxins are released in the brain.
 * Impaired kidney function, tissue and bone damage.

Additionally, food packaged in aluminium cans have other disadvantages such as:
 * Having low quality of the final product
 * Not microwaveable
 * Transportation issues due to weight
 * Other safety issues when opening the product
 * Once opened, food cannot be stored in the original packaging as it risks contamination
 * Contents aren't visible prior to opening

P OLYETHYLENE T EREPHTHALATE (PET) P LASTIC Polyethylene Terephthalate plastics, or PET, is one of the safer forms of plastic. It is made of modified ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, both of which are monomers. PET is commonly used for: PET is recyclable, lightweight, cheap to produce, re-sealable, shatter-resistant and the product is visible through the plastic. It also serves as a barrier against oxygen, water and carbon dioxide.
 * Water and soft drink bottles
 * Containers
 * Microwave food trays
 * Food packaging films

Aforementioned, PET is a safe variety of plastic. Unlike plastics containing Bisphenol-A (BPA), PET causes no health risk. This is due to the fact that, although there are leakages from the PET, it is completely safe. Research has shown that even the direct ingestion of PET is:

// “…biologically inert if ingested, dermally safe during handling and is not a hazard if inhaled.” //

However, other research has shown the PET can be dangerous. As it contains the metal antimony, it is also possible for traces of this metal to leak into the contents of a PET product. This leakage occurs after the PET product has undergone exposure to higher temperatures, over a period of approximately a day and a half. The dangers include:
 * Liver problems
 * Possible reproductive issues

It is suggested that PET products should be recycled after its single use.

G LASS

The use of glass for food packaging has been around since the Phoenicians and Syrians who first invented glass blowing. Today, we use glass for:


 * Jars
 * Jam and other fruit preserves
 * Spaghetti sauce

Glass retains the quality of the original product, as it is inert and there is nothing in the glass that could possibly leach out. It also provides good protection and is recyclable. Glass is impermeable, providing protection from gas, moisture and air, thus preserving the product for a longer time. Additionally, it is suitable for use in the microwave and the contents are visible.



Furthermore, glass changes properties under different temperatures. Under high temperatures, it becomes a conductor, however, under room temperature, it tends to be an insulator. Glass is an insulator as it is thick, thus being //viscous//, and not allowing any electrons to flow through. //Viscosity of a substance// simply put, is like syrup –when heated it becomes thin and runny, and when cooled, it becomes thick. Thus, a substance’ state of viscosity depends on the temperature: the cooler the temperature, the more viscous a substance is, thus becoming an insulator. It is when the substance undergoes higher temperature that it becomes a conductor, like glass.

However, glass also has a few disadvantages:


 * Heavy and fragile, it can become a safety risk for younger children.
 * More expensive than its aluminium and plastic counterparts.
 * The risk of broken glass in the product



B IBLIOGRAPHY Dixon R., __All Types of Packaging Materials Used to Package Food__, eHow, viewed 2 February 2012 

21 Jan 2010, __Food Packaging__, TheSite.org, viewed 2 February 2012 

__Packaging and Canning, modern__, eNotes, viewed 2 February 2012 

__Food Packaging and Labelling__, BBC, viewed 2 February 2012 

Barazesh S., 12 Jan 2009, __Probing Question: Is Plastic Dangerous?__, Penn State Live, viewed 3 February 2012 

__But the Dang Thing Won't Open__, Washington Post, viewed 3 February 2012 

__The Safety of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)__//,// plasticsInfo.org, viewed 3 February 2012 

26 September 2008, __Food Packaging__, TeachEngineering.org, viewed 18 February 2012 

Kotak P., __Aluminium, A Toxic Metal You Should Avoid in Your Food and Kitchen__, Home Remedies, viewed 18 February 2012 

18 February 2012, __Aluminium Foil__, Wikipedia, viewed 18 February 2012 

Fuller S., __The Disadvantages of Metal Packaging__, eHow, viewed 18 February 2012 

__Advantages of Metal Packaging for Food and Technical Products__, viewed 18 February 2012 

__What is PET?__, NAPCOR, viewed 18 February 2012 

__What is Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE)?__, viewed 18 February 2012 

Hickman M., 3 January 2007, __Health Warning Over Safety of Bottle Water__, The Independent, viewed 18 February 2012 

Westerhoff P., Prapaipong P., Shock E., Hillaireau A., 6 August 2007, __Antimony Leaching From Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Used For Bottled Drinking Water__, PubMed.gov, viewed 18 February 2012 

__Material PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)__, Design Site, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://www.designinsite.dk/htmsider/m0011.htm>

__PET - What is it and What is the Influence of PET on Beverages?__, WILD Answers, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://www.wildflavors.com/?page_ID=D7E591BC-C908-43FD-DE8A094CE7E401A6>

__History of Food Packaging__, Reduce Packaging.com, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://www.reducepackaging.com/History.html>

__Pure and Natural Glass__, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://www.o-i.com/uploadedFiles/O-I/Asia_Pacific/6724%20O_I%20New%20Mother'%20s%20Brochure%20-%20FINAL.pdf>

__Irish Food Packaging Information Service //Glass//__//,// Food Communications Information Service, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://www.ucc.ie/fcis/PKglass.htm>

Ireland J., __Debate on Plastic Bottles vs Glass Bottles__, eHow, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://www.ehow.com/about_5395280_debate-bottles-vs-glass-bottles.html>

__What is Viscosity?__, Wise Geek, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-viscosity.htm>

__Ceramics__, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/materials/ceramic4.html>

__Glass Packaging in Australia__, Dabron Packaging, viewed 18 February 2012 <http://www.dabron.com.au/glass-packaging.html>