Why steel packaging is the gold standard for food preservation and safety

In the food industry, packaging is crucial for preserving freshness, ensuring safety and prolonging shelf life. While plastic, glass and paper are commonly used materials, steel stands out as the gold standard in keeping food safe for consumption. Why? Because it is strong, airtight and non-reactive – these properties make it the preferred choice for delivering a vast range of edible products, from canned goods to beverages.

When reliability matters

No question that durability is one of the most significant advantages of steel packaging. Strength improves protection against outside impacts, pressure and other environmental forces. So for businesses dealing in food products, this means less chance of getting goods damaged during transport, handling or storage.

This material also handles extreme conditions well and will not warp or crack with refrigeration, freezing and heating. This makes steel perfect for long-distance shipping and global distribution, ensuring that food stuffs end up at their destinations in top condition regardless of the journey. Furthermore, steel has the strength to resist bending and crushing easily, making it ideal for stackable products, such as canned food.

Airtight for freshness

One of the key requirements for food packaging is an airtight seal. This directly influences shelf life and product safety. Steel packaging shines in this regard as it provides a closed seal to contact between outside environments and incoming contaminants, moisture, or air into a package. Airtight protection maintains fresh food, avoids spoilage, and retains flavour and texture qualities.

Once oxygen comes into contact with food, it starts decaying, loses its nutritional properties, and is prone to bacterial growth. Steel cans and containers are sealed so no oxygen enters them, and food remains spoiled. So canned fruits, vegetables, meats and soups can survive for months or years.

Its resistance to moisture penetration ensures that the food product stays dry, thus preventing it from being spoiled by mould or humidity. This is important for products like powdered foods, dried fruits, or snacks where just a slight intrusion of moisture will compromise quality.

Airtight seals are another reason why steel packaging is suitable for long-term storage. This means it is perfect for merchandise that requires extended shelf-life without refrigeration, such as emergency food supplies or ready-to-eat meals. Businesses can confidently offer consumers products that will remain fresh and safe over time.

Non-reactive properties for better safety

Steel packaging is renowned for its non-reactive properties and is considered a safe and efficient means of food preservation. Steel does not interact with food; therefore, there is no transference of chemical factors nor any alteration of the product's flavour, colour, and nutritional content. This is especially important with food products like tomatoes, citrus products, and sauces, which may react adversely to some packaging materials such as plastics or aluminium.

The non-reactive property of steel makes it incapable of absorbing or holding flavours, odours, or stains. Hence, food maintains its taste throughout the storage period. In addition to this, inner lining coatings, typically composed of food-safe epoxy or polyester materials, are used inside the packaging. This is to meet further safety guidelines that prevent food exposure to the steel directly.

In addition to chemical stability, steel is also non-sensitive to light, safeguarding food products from ultraviolet rays that can break down vitamins and nutrients. This aspect is essential for food products like canned fruits and vegetables, which may lower their health benefits if exposed to light.

The non-reactive and protective properties of steel assure continued preservation of food and maintain product safety, quality and consumer trust. Steel ensures acidic foods and beverages or dry goods remain unchanged from time of packaging to the moment of consumption.

Environmental considerations

The use of environmentally-friendly packaging is on the rise. Steel, for instance, is 100% recyclable. While other packaging materials tend to decompose over time, steel does not.

Instead, it can be infinitely recycled, its strength and quality remaining uncompromised. In fact, steel stands out as one of the world's most recycled materials.

By using this metal, companies can reduce their environmental footprint as consumers drive demand for green products. As steel is recyclable, it reduces virgin material usage and conserves natural resources while providing energy efficiency in the production process. Businesses that source from a custom packaging supplier can have an environmental advantage that reflects today's conservation goals.

The gold standard for food preservation and safety is tinned food inside steel packaging, as it is non-reactive, durable and has an airtight seal.

Its ability to keep food away from anything that might lead to spoilage has helped the food industry to maintain long-lasting freshness. Therefore, the rigid and long-lasting strength of steel offers businesses the surety of sustaining a long shelf life and the quality of food.

As a packaging option, steel is sustainable, eco-friendly and recyclable, thus supporting the needs of businesses and environmentally conscious consumers. Partnering with reliable packaging companies in Melbourne can offer customised solutions to various food packaging needs.

Wholesalers and retailers interested in improvements for their canned products could consider steel packaging. It has unparalleled advantages in ensuring product integrity, consumer safety and environmental responsibility.