Sign of the Times: Safety First With Flexible Packaging

The purity and safety of packaged products are among the top priorities of food, supplement or vitamin producers. Brands that bring consumables to market may need to meet specific packaging requirements to preserve the viability of active ingredients and protect contents from tampering during shipment and storage. Once products reach stores and end users, safety factors such as child-proof packaging become more important. Find out more about several of the leading safety trends for flexible food and supplement packaging.

Childproof Packaging Design

Some supplements and vitamins pose risks if more than the recommended dosage or serving is consumed at one time. This risk is heightened for children, whose lower body weights and developing systems make them more susceptible to toxicity. Selecting a packaging design such as childproof pouches is helpful for restricting access and preventing accidental ingestion or overdose. Packaging should strike the right balance between minimal frustration for the intended end user and reduced risk.

Consult with a service that designs and produces packaging materials to select the right packaging safety features. Stand-up or lay-flat pouches can be designed to meet the standards of the U.S. Poison Prevention Packaging Act and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 16, Part 1700) as referenced in the ASTM International D3475 standard. Child-resistant films deter access to the contents of sealed packaging while certified press-to-close zippers maintain protection even after a package has been opened. Clear labeling provides intended users with all of the information necessary to use products as directed.

Tamper-Evident Packaging

Consumables must also meet packaging standards for food, supplement or vitamin safety. Store stockers and customers should be able to easily confirm that the original seal is still intact on packaging. Tamper-evident designs are helpful for limiting liability and guaranteeing product quality.

Depending on package design, the presence of an air-tight seal should be detectable when a product is handled. This is particularly the case for sensitive ingredients or frozen food packaging that must shield contents from exposure to freezing temperatures throughout shipment and storage. Packaging experts can recommend the right food-grade films and liners for any consumable product.

Sanitary Packaging

Consumables should be packaged in materials that keep out external microbes and pathogens. In addition to selecting materials and sealing methods that are secure, it is also important to factor in the strength of flexible packaging to prevent unintended exposure due to rough handling during packing, shipping or display.

Shelf-stable products that are sensitive to oxidation or exposure to ambient moisture may require the use of specialized packing materials or freshness inserts. Flexible packaging specialists can recommend the right package designs and materials to ensure the quality of a product is maintained from the production line to consumers’ homes.

Depending on the product, these or other safety concerns may be foremost when a brand selects flexible packaging materials. Experienced specialists can recommend the right materials and package design to make products inviting and easy for intended consumers to use and resistant to tampering. The right combination of safe materials and package design is possible for any food, supplement or vitamin.