Aseptic packaging consists of filling and sealing a sterilized packaging material with a sterilized product. Aseptic packaging material not only has got to assure sterile conditions within the package and protect the merchandise from physical damage, but also maintain the standard of the merchandise inside the packaging.
To achieve this, a laminate material is made from the subsequent components: semi-rigid paper, aluminum, and plastic. Paper (70%) provides the stiffness, strength, and also the efficient brick shape to the package; potential for bacteria must be addressed. Low-density polyethylene (24%), the foremost common plastic used for aseptic packaging, located on the innermost layer forms the seals that make the package liquid-tight. Aluminum (6%) is found on the within of the aseptic package, forming a barrier against light and oxygen, thereby eliminating the requirement for refrigeration and preventing spoilage without using preservatives.
Most packaging material utilized in aseptic packaging is formed from plastics rather than metal or glass containers because of the relatively low cost of manufacturing plastic material in comparison to metal and glass. Plastics are lighter than metal or glass making them cheaper and easier to move. Plastics also required much less energy to supply than metal and glass. These factors have made plastic the packaging material of choice to be used in aseptic processing.
What is an aseptic bag?
Aseptic bag could be a reasonably packaging material produced by polyethylene particles as stuff, blown film, cutting, heat sealing, vacuum packaging, sterilization during a clean environment. Aseptic systems use ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) sterilization, a quick heating treatment at temperatures above pasteurization temperatures. Paper and plastic packaging materials are sterilized, formed, filled, and sealed in a very continuous operation at the tip of the processing line.
Where is aseptic packaging applied?
Aseptic packaging is that the process by which microorganisms are prevented from entering a package during and after packaging. During aseptic processing, a sterilized package is full of a commercially sterile nutrient and sealed within the confines of a hygienic environment. Aseptic processing has almost completely replaced in-container sterilization of liquid foods, including milk, fruit juices and concentrates, cream, yogurt, dressing, liquid egg, and frozen dessert mix. There has been an increasing popularity for foods that contain small discrete particles, like farmer’s cheese, baby foods, tomato products, fruit and vegetables, soups, and rice desserts.
The advantages of aseptic packaging are:
- convenience – it’s portable and lightweight
- food safety – the method ensures that the food is safe from harmful bacteria
- no refrigeration is required – which saves energy within the transportation and storage of the foodstuff
- less energy is required – less energy to heat and sterilise the merchandise and also the container
- protection of nutritional content – the foodstuff contains more nutrients thanks to less heat damage; preservatives don’t must be added
- low packaging to product ratio – there’s quite 90% nutrient to 10% package
- storage efficiency – brick shapes are easier to pack in bulk than cans or jars
