Packaging Considerations for Safeguarding Frozen Foods

When it comes to packaging for consumer purchased goods, reclosable flexible formats have proven helpful for tackling challenges like fighting food waste and providing consumers with time-saving convenience—and the same can be said for frozen food packaging. More than that, reclosable flexible packaging can also play a significant role in protecting inside contents from the outside elements, as well as aiding in consumer and food safety.

Whether the package will hold frozen vegetables, meat products, fruits, pasta, or any other type of frozen food, product safety and freshness are paramount to consumer health and satisfaction. As the frozen food market continues to expand and evolve its offerings, the role of packaging in helping to preserve product quality while also providing convenience for the consumer will be more important than ever. To help prioritize safety for frozen foods, brands should opt for packaging that is durable, capable of withstanding freezing temperatures, and focused on protecting the quality of the contents of the package for extended use and freshness.

Reclosable Flexible Pouches for Frozen Foods

Flexible pouches continue to be a popular solution for the packaging of foods, particularly for frozen goods. When crafted from food-grade plastics or other certified food-safe materials, flexible packaging can provide a reliable barrier against outside factors while also helping to ensure the preservation of food quality during storage.

By incorporating a reclosability feature, a flexible pouch can offer added value for consumers, helping address key concerns such as continued freshness, convenience, and security. By allowing consumers to easily open and reclose a package between servings, a quality closure can help slow the exchange of air and moisture, simultaneously helping ensure product longevity, curb unnecessary food waste, and eliminate the need for single-use bags. Moreover, the reassurance of a securely reclosed pouch can help instill added confidence that the frozen food will remain delicious and flavorful for every use.

Combatting Freezer Burn with Reclosable Packaging for Frozen Goods

One of the biggest challenges consumers face with frozen foods is freezer burn. With its telltale signs of dehydration and discoloration, freezer burn is caused by air reaching the surface of the food, causing moisture to escape and sometimes leave behind a layer of ice crystals on the packaging and product. While freezer burned food is not unsafe to consume, it does affect the quality of the product—leading to a drier texture and less flavor.

To help prevent air from reaching the frozen food product and causing freezer burn, packaging should be hermetically sealed before its initial open and reclosed after. This is where the right closure is key to providing a positive consumer experience, as it allows consumers to reclose a frozen food pouch after pushing excess air out and store it confidently until its next use.

Fresh-Lock® Zipper-Top is a single component zipper that forms the top of a frozen food package and works seamlessly with form, fill, and seal processes. Zipper-Top features an easy open tear bead design that improves hermeticity over other perforated styles, and a secure close to help lock out air for extended product freshness. Packagers will appreciate efficiencies like a broader operating window and high-integrity seals that won’t leak, gap, or distort.

Promoting Food Safety in the Freezer Aisle

Salmonella, a notorious pathogen, stands as the leading culprit behind foodborne illnesses. According to CDC estimates, over one million projected cases of salmonella occur annually in the U.S. alone. The symptoms of salmonella infection can range from uncomfortable gastrointestinal distress to more severe complications like typhoid fever.

Beyond its impact on public health, salmonella contamination poses significant risks to brands as it can tarnish reputations and trigger costly recalls. To help mitigate these risks and safeguard both consumers and food manufacturers, it is essential to prioritize food safety at every stage of the supply chain—and that includes the freezer aisle and the consumer’s home.

One key approach brands can take in helping promote food safety even after a product has been distributed is by packaging frozen food in reclosable packaging. By adding a closure, frozen food packers can help keep uncooked food contained, which helps to protect against cross-contamination even after the package is opened and reclosed.

But not just any closure will do—some closures that are not made to withstand freezing temperatures can inadvertently pop open in the freezer, leading to spillage, freezer burn, and a potentially frustrated consumer. To avoid this negative experience, our Fresh-Lock® Double Lock Zippers allow for twice the protection and assurance that the seal is secure. With an ergonomic feel and a variety of designs and sizes available, our Double Lock Zippers help aid consumer confidence and maintain freshness for continued enjoyment of frozen foods.

To add an extra layer of protection to frozen food packaging, tamper-evident features on a closure can help ensure the integrity and safety of the product by providing visible signs of interreference or tampering. Circling back to our Zipper-Top closure, its tear bead design not only enhances the package’s hermetic seal to help protect against freezer burn, but it also helps show if unauthorized access to a product has occurred before purchase.

Providing Convenience to Consumers with Frozen Food Packaging

In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is a prized commodity, especially when it comes to mealtime. Frozen foods are a major convenience for individuals and families who prefer to have food on hand that won’t expire quickly. As consumers seek conveniences that don’t compromise the safety and quality of their meals, it’s increasingly important that brands opt for packaging solutions that offer ease of use as well as protection.

The Fresh-Lock team understands the importance of providing a user-friendly experience while safeguarding against contamination and spoilage. Our team of experts is dedicated to collaborating with you to find the perfect closure solution for your frozen food packaging needs. Contact the Fresh-Lock team today to discover which innovative closures can help you offer a seamless experience that exceeds your customers’ expectations.