Prevention of Post-Process Contamination of Semi-Rigid and Flexible Containers

Anema, P. J.; Schram, B. L.

doi:10.4315/0362-028x-43.6.461

“…1 In flexible and semi-rigid containers, the post-process contamination of aseptically and thermally processed foods is mainly caused by leaker spoilage. [2][3][4] Pinhole and micro-channel leaks are two common types of leakages found in these food packages, 5 leading not only to a reduced shelf life but also to a possible health risk. The oxygen permeability of a food packaging container for fresh and high-lipid products is a critical factor in food quality preservation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A hermetically sealed container is one that is designed and intended to be secure against the entry of microorganisms and thereby maintains the commercial sterility of its contents after processing as defined in Section 113.3 of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations . In flexible and semi‐rigid containers, the post‐process contamination of aseptically and thermally processed foods is mainly caused by leaker spoilage . Pinhole and micro‐channel leaks are two common types of leakages found in these food packages, leading not only to a reduced shelf life but also to a possible health risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of a Non‐destructive High‐voltage Technique for the Detection of Pinhole Leaks in Flexible and Semi‐rigid Packages for Foods

Yue

¹

,

Gera

²

,

Jain

³

et al. 2013

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This study evaluated the capabilities of a high-voltage technique for the detection of pinhole leaks by using flexible pouches and semi-rigid cups for foods. This evaluation was performed by measuring the discharge voltage when high voltages ranging from 0.25 to 10 kV were applied to sample packages. The results showed that package contact surface area, film thickness, food type and electrical conductivity are significant factors affecting the detection of pinhole leaks in flexible pouches by a high-voltage leak detection (HVLD) system within the ranges tested ( p < 0.05). For plastic cups with plastic-laminated and foil-laminated lids, the headspace inside a cup had the greatest effect followed by dielectric constant of lid films, electrical conductivity of foods and pinhole diameter ( p < 0.01). In general, the HVLD system can detect pinholes as small as 10 mm in both plastic-laminated and foil-laminated pouches and lid cups, even at worst-case scenario conditions, including liquid, semi-solid and solid foods with 0.85 a w . Because of high voltages applied, however, delamination in foil-laminated films occurred when an applied voltage was greater than 3.5 kV, which resulted in increased oxygen permeability. Statistical z-test analysis of results from blind studies showed that the HVLD technique is significantly effective in determining defective pouches and cups with pinhole leaks as small as 10 mm ( p < 0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that the HVLD technique is a promising non-destructive and on-line method to detect pinhole defects, which may be applicable to a wide range of hermetically sealed packages.

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Reliability of Destructive Leakage Detection Methods for Semirigid Retort Packages

Hurme

¹

,

Wirtanen

²

,

Axelson-Larsson³

et al. 1996

Packag. Technol. Sci.

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Three different destructive testing methods for package integrity (biotesting, dye penetration and electrical conductance) were compared w i t h each other using intact and leaking retort packages. In biotesting, both vegetative cells of Enterobacter aerogenes and spores of Bacillus subtilis were used as test microbes. The biotest results did not significantly differ from each other, most packages with a 50 pm channel leak through the seal area were contaminated. Biotesting w i t h E. aerogenes was regarded as a more favourable method than testing with spores of B. subtilis since it was easier t o perform and gas formation in the packages was a simple indicator for product contamination. The electrolytic test was able t o discover most of the leaking packages more reliably than the biotests and the dye penetration test. The dye test had similar sensitivity i n identifying leaks t o that of the biotests. In conclusion, the microbial integrity of packages should not be estimated only by biotests, even if they are generally regarded as the most severe package integrity test methods.

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Reliability of destructive leakage detection methods for semirigid retort packages

Hurme¹,

Wirtanen²,

Mattila‐Sandholm³

et al. 1996

Packag. Technol. Sci.

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Three different destructive testing methods for package integrity (biotesting, dye penetration and electrical conductance) were compared w i t h each other using intact and leaking retort packages. In biotesting, both vegetative cells of Enterobacter aerogenes and spores of Bacillus subtilis were used as test microbes. The biotest results did not significantly differ from each other, most packages with a 50 pm channel leak through the seal area were contaminated. Biotesting w i t h E. aerogenes was regarded as a more favourable method than testing with spores of B. subtilis since it was easier t o perform and gas formation in the packages was a simple indicator for product contamination. The electrolytic test was able t o discover most of the leaking packages more reliably than the biotests and the dye penetration test. The dye test had similar sensitivity i n identifying leaks t o that of the biotests. In conclusion, the microbial integrity of packages should not be estimated only by biotests, even if they are generally regarded as the most severe package integrity test methods.

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Prevention of Post-Process Contamination of Semi-Rigid and Flexible Containers

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Evaluation of a Non‐destructive High‐voltage Technique for the Detection of Pinhole Leaks in Flexible and Semi‐rigid Packages for Foods

Evaluation of a Non‐destructive High‐voltage Technique for the Detection of Pinhole Leaks in Flexible and Semi‐rigid Packages for Foods

Reliability of Destructive Leakage Detection Methods for Semirigid Retort Packages

Reliability of destructive leakage detection methods for semirigid retort packages

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