Protective function of packs and requirements

The protective function of packs to the effect of mechanical, physical, chemical and microbiological factors is presented in the Figure .

Protictive Functions of Pack

i) Chemical protective functions

•  Aroma tight
•  Odour tight (protection against environments dours which may be easily
• taken up).
•  Oxygen-tight (prevention of the growth of moulds and of fat oxidation).
•  No adverse effect on the product (e.g. no migration of soluble and toxic substances from the packaging materials).
•  Acid resistance of packs and of materials for declaration.
•  No corrosion of the AI foil lids occurring as a result of the mutual action between lactic and fruit acids and aluminium.

 ii) The microbiological protective function

•  Micro-organisms must not pass through packs.
•  Acidification should not be disturbed.
•  Smaller openings of packs are better for the prevention of airborne contamination (e.g. the versus-conical cups are more suitable shape than the conical ones).
•  Prevention of contamination during storage.
•  Protection against microbiological effects (environmental effects through non-tightly closed containers, too large empty space in packs, etc.)
•  Single-trip packs and their lids should be germ-free as far as possible.
•  Multiple-trip packs should have a light-weight and be designed for cleaning.

 iii) The hygienic protective function

The hygienic protection of the upper rim of cups is required with yoghurt/ dahi beverages which are consumed directly from cups.

iv) The mechanical protective function

•  Resistance against shocks.
•  Water-tight (liquid-tight).
•  Resistance against moisture.
•  Ability to resist transport and storage.
•  The shape stability.
•  Suitable shape.
•  Head space above the filled product should be as small as possible.

 v) The physical protective function

•  Effect of light should be reduced e.g. through laminated foils with the light barrier. Therefore, transparent packs are not recommended. Sunlight affects the natural yoghurt stronger than the fruit yoghurt.
•  In order to prevent airborne contamination by micro-organisms due to the electrostatic properties of plastic materials (polystyrene) caused by dust particles, cups should be packaged in tightly closed carton boxes during storage.
•  Antistatic design of the plastic cups is recommended (e.g. by means of laminated foils).

 vi) The environmental protective function

•  Possibility to utilize sweepings.
•  No damaging effect to the environment during burning of sweepings.
•  Development of plastics which are decomposed by microorganisms.
•  Possibility of recovery and further utilization of the packaging materials already used.

 vii) The marketing function

Packs should cope with the marketing conception of the packaged product e.g. shape, graphical illustration, nice printing and informative declaration.Actually, packs represent a manufacturing firm.