The Heat is On
Withstanding high temperatures and pressures is the name of the game for retort pouches.
June 2007 by Tom Polischuk
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Food packaging runs the gamut of methods and techniques, some tried and true and some pushing the envelope of contemporary packaging. Pouches fall into this latter category, with an even more targeted segment dealing with retort packaging.
With retort pouches, the food is processed (cooked) in the actual package. Therefore, the pouch construction must withstand the rigors of high temperatures and pressure, testing the robustness of all aspects of the package—seals, closures, inks, laminations, and adhesives.
All this means is that retort pouches fit the age-old adage, “you don’t get something for nothing.” The “something” you get is fairly substantial.
Tobin Hass, director of technical marketing, Ampac Flexibles, lists several benefits provided by retort pouches. “These include improved product quality due to shorter cook times, package differentiation, lighter weight, improved aesthetics, higher print quality, and safety (no sharp edges).
The impact pouches have can be readily seen up and down the aisle of any grocery store and maybe some places that many consumers don’t see. “We are seeing retort pouches replacing jars, bottles, and metal cans—smaller cans in the consumer food market, as well as large industrial-sized cans in food service,” reports Ehud Safrai, president, CLP Packaging Solutions.
What retort pouches bring to the picture says Safrai, are excellent barrier properties that protect against oxidation, moisture, and other factors that affect food products. The shorter cook times are the result of efficient heat transmission and the fact that the mass of the contents in the pouch is not a thick cylinder as it is in cans and jars. “That means that the product can be cooked more quickly and gently, which helps manufacturers maintain more delicate flavors. Simply put, food in pouches tastes better.”
Rodney Weaver, research and development associate for Sonoco Flexible Packaging, touches on another critical factor—consumer convenience. “With today’s on-the-go lifestyles, consumers want good tasting foods that are either ready to consume or can be consumed with a minimum of preparation. Retort pouches are the perfect packaging medium as they are designed for shelf-stable and processed foods.”
Another important convenience factor that pouches meet is that they are easy to open—for adults and children, says Weaver. “One segment that truly appreciates this benefit of the easy-to-open pouch is the pet food segment. Parents like that children can feed the family dog or cat by squeezing the food out of a pouch.”
With retort pouches, the food is processed (cooked) in the actual package. Therefore, the pouch construction must withstand the rigors of high temperatures and pressure, testing the robustness of all aspects of the package—seals, closures, inks, laminations, and adhesives.
All this means is that retort pouches fit the age-old adage, “you don’t get something for nothing.” The “something” you get is fairly substantial.
Tobin Hass, director of technical marketing, Ampac Flexibles, lists several benefits provided by retort pouches. “These include improved product quality due to shorter cook times, package differentiation, lighter weight, improved aesthetics, higher print quality, and safety (no sharp edges).
The impact pouches have can be readily seen up and down the aisle of any grocery store and maybe some places that many consumers don’t see. “We are seeing retort pouches replacing jars, bottles, and metal cans—smaller cans in the consumer food market, as well as large industrial-sized cans in food service,” reports Ehud Safrai, president, CLP Packaging Solutions.
What retort pouches bring to the picture says Safrai, are excellent barrier properties that protect against oxidation, moisture, and other factors that affect food products. The shorter cook times are the result of efficient heat transmission and the fact that the mass of the contents in the pouch is not a thick cylinder as it is in cans and jars. “That means that the product can be cooked more quickly and gently, which helps manufacturers maintain more delicate flavors. Simply put, food in pouches tastes better.”
Rodney Weaver, research and development associate for Sonoco Flexible Packaging, touches on another critical factor—consumer convenience. “With today’s on-the-go lifestyles, consumers want good tasting foods that are either ready to consume or can be consumed with a minimum of preparation. Retort pouches are the perfect packaging medium as they are designed for shelf-stable and processed foods.”
Another important convenience factor that pouches meet is that they are easy to open—for adults and children, says Weaver. “One segment that truly appreciates this benefit of the easy-to-open pouch is the pet food segment. Parents like that children can feed the family dog or cat by squeezing the food out of a pouch.”
Companies Mentioned:
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