Discuss the types of Rigid food packaging material stating their merits and demerits

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a. Metal and its alloys
Metal used include tin, aluminum, steel, Nickel, copper, silver etc. Metals are mostly used for packaging canned foods. Among the aluminium is mostly used because:

1. It is relatively cheaper than other alloy metals e.g. steel and nickel
2. It is easily shaped and made into different sizes according to the type of food being packaged
3. It has good thermal and electrical conductivity
4. It is easily manipulated and welded during packaging
5. It has good resistance to corrosion
6. Aluminium foils can be flexible and can take a shape of the food product.
7. It is light in weight and strong thus reducing transportation cost

Demerits of Aluminium

1. Aluminium is highly ductile and can tear food of high weight are packaged in aluminium alone. This is overcome by alloying aluminium with small quantities of magnesium, manganese, silicon and copper.
2. Aluminium can be oxidized thus making welding difficult.
3. Pure aluminium packages can be dissolved in liquids or solvents of low or high PH.

b. Glass
They are ideal for packaging liquid food products e.g. carbonated drinks, beer, wine, spirits, milk, honey, oils, Jam etc.

Merits

1. It is transparent hence making products attractive and visible
2. It is inert that is it does not react with food products. It has excellent resistance to
corrosion, since it inert to all chemicals except phosphoric acid and hydrophloric
acid and strong alkalis.
3. It can be recycled and re-used
4. It is non-porous hence suitable for packaging liquid products and dry foods
5. It has high storage stability
6. It is easy to clean and maintain hygienic conditions of foods
7. It is suitable for mechanical packaging of food that is quick

Demerits
1. It has low mechanical strength. It breaks easily when subjected to thermal shock
2.It has higher weight which increases transportation costs than other types of
packaging material
3.Glass splinters or fragments in food can be a potential serious hazard to
consumers

Titany answered the question on November 5, 2021 at 05:44

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Discuss the types of Rigid food packaging material stating their merits and demerits

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