‘It’s all in the packaging’ is a phrase most manufacturers swear by. Unless the consumer tastes the end product, he wouldn’t know the quality. But to convince him to pick up that packet from the supermarket shelf, a good and attractive packaging plays a major part. The role of flexible packaging isn’t limited to just attract the consumer. It is also meant to protect the food items inside. Protection from contamination and deterioration throughout its shelf life is also an integral part of good flexible packaging. It must also be informative of the nutrients and ingredients and other details in compliance with the labeling and packaging regulations.

1. Flexible Packaging & Food Safety
‘It’sall inthe packaging’isa phrase mostmanufacturersswearby.Unlessthe consumertastesthe end
product,he wouldn’tknowthe quality.Buttoconvince himtopickup that packetfrom the supermarket
shelf,agood and attractive packagingplaysa majorpart.
The role of flexiblepackagingisn’tlimitedtojustattract the consumer.Itis alsomeantto protectthe
fooditemsinside. Protectionfromcontaminationanddeteriorationthroughoutitsshelf life isalsoan
integral partof goodflexible packaging.Itmustalsobe informative of the nutrientsandingredientsand
otherdetailsincompliance withthe labelingandpackagingregulations.
Some of the basicfeaturesconsideredforgoodflexible packagingare:
· Compatibilitywiththe productandstorage conditions
· Protectionof the productfromdeteriorationof chemical,physical orbiological nature
· Appropriate packagingintendedforthe final use of the product(e.g. - Microwavable
packaging,resealable packetsetc)
· Abilitytosustainthe stressof productionanddistribution - won’tcrack/breakordegrade
No material isinert.Whenamaterial like plasticisputintocontact withedible productsthere will be a
release of substancesfromthe plasticintothe edible content.The releasewill dependon3factors
namely:
-The typesof material
-Type of edible content
-Contactconditions
However,the releaseor‘migrants’astheyare knownintothe foodcontentdoesn’tnotrenderittoxic
or dangeroustoconsume because a shieldlayerof plasticwhichisfoodgrade isusedwhile formingthe
packagingmaterial. Eventhe migrationistakenintoaccountby regulatorswhile approvinganewfood
contact substances.Studiesontoxicologyare carriedoutbyregulatorspriorto approval.
Uflex Ltd.,India’slargestflexiblepackagingcompanyhasbeenoffering amongstothers, the food
packagingsolutionsformore thantwodecadesnow. The companyofferspackagingmaterialsforfood
productsmade out of BOPET (BiaxiallyOrientedPolytthylene Terapthalate),BOPP(BiaxiallyOriented
Polypropylene) andCPP(CastPolypropylene) films.The manufacturingof these productsare instrict
adherence tothe international standardsandnorms.FlexiblepackagingatUflex isknownforexcellent
chemical resistance,strength,protectionagainstmoisture andodouranddimensional stability.

2. Keepingupwiththe timesandthe dynamicsof the packagingindustryUflex hasbeenapioneerin
settingbenchmarksfordeliveringinnovative packagingconceptsandtoensure the safetyandviability
of the packagedfoodinitslife cycle.