Plastic Films in Food Packaging

The value of the grocery sector in the USA is over $500 billion annually, most of which is accounted for by packaged foods. More foods are packaged everyday to maintain freshness, prevent spoilage and sabotage, and improve marketing to consumers and to trade. Another important role of packaging is a place for labels that provide nutrition and content information, lot number and dates, preparation directions and the specific food data required by regulatory authorities. Plastic packaging of foods is not only ubiquitous in developed economies, but increasingly commonplace in the developing world, where plastic packaging is instrumental in decreasing the proportion of the food supply lost to spoilage. Dr Sina Ebnesajjad has selected material from recently published books, which has been updated for this new handbook. Together with new material written for this book, Plastic Films in Food Packaging offers a practical handbook engineers, scientists and managers working in the food packaging industry, providing a tailor-made package of science and engineering fundamentals, best practice techniques and guidance on new and emerging technologies. By covering materials, design, packaging processes, machinery and waste management together in one book, Dr Ebnesajjad enables the reader to take a lifecycle approach to the food packaging. The authors address questions related to film grades, types of packages for different types of foods, packaging technologies, machinery and waste management. Additionally the book provides a review of new and emerging technologies. Two new chapters cover the development of barrier films for food packaging, and the regulatory and safety aspects of food packaging. Essential information and practical guidance for engineers and scientists working at all stages of the food packaging lifecycle: from design through manufacture to recycling. Includes key published material on plastic films in food packaging, updated specifically for this Handbook, and new material on the regulatory framework and safety aspects. Coverage of materials and applications together in one handbook enables engineers and scientists to make informed design and manufacturing decisions.