Importance of Quality Food Grade Packaging
For a packaging product to qualify as food grade, it has to meet the food safety and regulation standard of Singapore. Unlike normal packaging products, food grade packaging has to adhere to strict regulations due to the possibility of contamination which may lead to food products being unsafe for consumption. The main purpose of food packaging is to prevent contamination, increase the shelf-life of food, prevent physical damage, ensure food remains fresh for longer and also to curb the tampering of food products. Let us take a look in detail at why these points make food packaging crucial.
1) Preventing external contamination
Contaminated food can be dangerous when consumed as it may cause sickness, diseases and even death in some extreme cases. When food becomes contaminated, it reduces the shelf-life of the product, compromising freshness which at times causes the food product to be unsafe for consumption. Especially in Singapore where most of our food products are imported overseas, we have to ensure that the food we import is packed safely, adhering to our food safety and regulation guidelines.
2) Increase the shelf-life of food
When securely packed, many food products have extended shelf-life due to limited exposure to oxygen. With limited exposure to oxygen, decomposers do not have the right environment to grow and thrive as compared to a food product without any protective packaging. When securely packed and placed in a place with low temperature, the shelf-life of a food product increases significantly. This is extremely crucial for food like fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables that are imported overseas.
3) Prevent physical damage
Besides preventing contamination and increasing the shelf-life of food products, proper packaging can also curb external physical damage especially when goods are imported overseas. During the transportation journey, food products may be subjected to external physical impact. This is why it is crucial to ensure that proper protective packaging is used to prevent this. Physical damage to food products not only compromises on its appearance but the contact may at times introduce contaminants which renders these foods unsafe for consumption.
4) Maintains food freshness
Food grade packaging helps preserve the freshness of food, making food products safe and edible even when transported thousands of miles across land, air and sea. With technology advancements, some food grade packaging is able to regulate temperature, record impact and even indicate tampering to the product.
5) Prevents tampering
When a food product is tampered with, there is a high risk of the food being contaminated, thus making it unsafe for consumption. Food grade packaging helps prevent the tampering of food by keeping them secured. With modern technology, packaging can even be installed with indicators to show whether a package/product has been tampered with.
There are a variety of different types of food graded packaging in Singapore made from glass, metal, plastic and even paper. The type of material used depends on the application needed. The most commonly used material for food-grade packaging are plastics. Some common examples include, cling wrap, grocery bags, milk containers, coffee can lid, and many more. Most of these packaging products are made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
HDPE is usually used for milk containers, squeeze bottles for sauces, butter containers, juice carton lining, and many more. Due to its resistance to corrosion, liquids, and anti-leech properties, HDPE is usually used for liquid food products. LDPE on the other hand is usually used for grocery bags, cling film, coffee can lid and bread bags. LDPE is flexible with high resistance to impact and heat, making it the ideal material for flexible application like films, bags and wraps.
With the rise in demand for food packaging due to the surge in deliveries of food products, the demand for LDPE and HDPE products in Singapore has increased. The COVID-19 quarantine measures have also contributed to the surge in this demand. With the increase in demand for LDPE and HDPE packaging in Singapore, companies are now looking to find reliable and cost-efficient suppliers.
Impact Rank is the leading LDPE and HDPE supplier in Singapore. What sets us apart from other LDPE and HDPE companies in Singapore is our consistent track record of 19 years and our advocacy for environmentally sustainable plastics. We ensure that all of our products are manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001 and HACCP standards. Recently, we’ve attained the Sirim Eco Label in 2020 for our efforts towards greener and more environmentally sustainable solutions for plastics.
If you require any assistance pertaining to HDPE and LDPE food packaging in Singapore, please do not hesitate to contact us! We have niche industry experts to assist you pertaining to the variety of HDPE and LDPE products in Singapore. Click here to contact us now!