Earticle

The effect of food simulants on properties and light barrier function of LDPE-nano TiO2 composite film has been investigated. LDPE-nano TiO2 composite films were prepared with 5.0wt% TiO2 content by melt-extrusion. To simulate food contact environment, according to KFDA standards and specifications for food utensils, containers and packages, food simulants were selected with deionized water, 50% ethanol, 4% acetic acid and n-heptane and composite films were immersed in each food simulant at 70oC, 30 min except n-heptane (25oC, 60 min). A variety of material properties, including crystallinity, chemical bonds, surface morphology, mechanical, oxygen barrier and optical properties, of LDPEnano TiO2 composite film were examined with and without the food simulants treatment. As a result, under regulated migration condition, LDPE-nano TiO2 composite showed extremely stable in all properties tested in the study in contact with food simulants indicating that TiO2 nanoparticles are physicochemically stable and quite compatible with LDPE. Results enable us to anticipate migration of TiO2 will probably not occur. To evaluate influence of migration of TiO2 on food stuffs, their color, pH and acidity were observed as well.

This article described the development of transparent antimicrobial oxo-biodegradable (AOB) film with the function of enhanced freshness of food by employing oxo-biodegradable masterbatch (MB) and antimicrobial MB together with organic metal salt, organic acid, or unsaturated fatty acid. Antibacterial test of the AOB film with the different contents of the antimicrobial MB resulted in the significant freshness extension of plum. Tensile strength and elongation rate of the AOB films before UV treatment were similar to those of polyethylene films used as control. The reduced mechanical properties of AOB film after UV treatment (340 nm) suggested that the AOB film could be degraded by oxo biodegradation. The developed AOB films can effectively prevent decomposition of food by providing antibacterial function and preserving freshness.

Effects of packaging methods for maintaining the shelf-life and postharvest quality of Korean chive (Allium tuberosum Rotter) usually called buchu in Korea was studied during fall season. Buchu, which has high moisture content and active metabolism after harvest, is characterized by the greater changes in quality during storage and distribution. It is usually packaged in paper box during distribution in domestic channel in Korea where the marketability ends within few days of harvest. In order to maintain the commercial quality of buchu, we tried to use inner film with or without absorbent paper in commercial paper box packaging. The ‘Greenbelt’ cultivar of buchu was harvested in october and packaged in corrugated paper box (A), in corrugated paper box with micro-perforated high density polyethylene (HDPE) film as inner material (B), a layer of absorbent paper both at the bottom and top of buchu in corrugated paper box (C) and a combination of HDPE film as inner material along with a layer of absorbent paper both at the bottom and top of buchu in corrugated paper box (D), and stored at 5oC for up to 21 days. Several quality parameters such as fresh weight loss, respiration rate, color, chlorophyll content and sensory qualities were monitored during storage. When buchu was packaged only in paper box, the appearance and quality deteriorated rapidly through decay development thereby sample became unmarketable within 12 days. On the other hand, buchu packaged with inner HDPE film maintained its quality, good visual appearance and exhibited a longer period of marketable life compared to the samples stored in other treatments. However, the use of absorbent paper did not have any significant effect in maintaining quality of buchu. The uses of inner HDPE film was effective in reducing weight loss that resulted better visual appearance of buchu. Results suggest that the use of inner HDPE film in bulk type corrugated paper box packaging and storing at 5oC could be the optimum condition for commercial storage of buchu. Further investigation on other quality parameters and packaging methods would be useful in maintaining the quality aspects of buchu at postharvest stages.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality change of fresh-cut tumeric (Curcuma Longa Linne) according to packaging method during storage time. The fresh-cut tumeric were packaged in three different methods : degassing valve packaging (DVP), CO2 gas absorber packaging (CAP) and micro- perforated packaging (MPP). After the samples were packaged, they were stored for 15 days at 4 and 23oC respectively. The following parameters were observed to indicate the quality changes of the samples: weight loss, CIE L*a*b* colour difference, variation of gas composition inside the package, curcumin contents and changes in hardness of fresh-cut tumeric. DVP did not effectively release CO2 gas to the outside. MPP was suitable to release CO2 gas. However, MPP showed very fast browning and erosion, because a large amount of oxygen was introduced through the perforated hole on the film. CAP was most effective packaging method to inhibit browning, to prevent expansion of the packaging by CO2 gas and to minimize weight loss of freshcut tumeric.

Effects of different packaging methods for maintaining the shelf life and postharvest quality of iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were studied after harvesting in summer season. Lettuce heads were packaged in plastic crate with or without different films such as (A) Individual lettuce head sealed packaging with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) film; (B) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate and wrapped with LLDPE film; (C): Individual lettuce head sealed packaging with perforated high density polyethylene (HDPE) film; (D) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate and wrapped with perforated HDPE; and (E) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate without any film (control), and stored at 2°C for 35 days. Several quality parameters such as fresh weight loss, SPAD (soil & plant analyzer development) meter value, respiration rate, moisture content and appearance of lettuce were investigated. The lettuce wrapped with individually- sealed LLDPE film showed the lowest weight loss and the highest SPAD value rendering the best appearance index among the treataments throughout the three-week storage period at 2oC. Extending the freshness of iceberg lettuce during low temperature storage will definitely increase the salability potential in the domestic market even during summer season.

This study was conducted to investigate the packaging characteristics including pack sources and pack components of processed foods in Korea. For the survey, 704 food package samples were selected based on the consumption of top 10 brackets in each food item. They were consisted of 1,245 packaging components. Seven specific items were firstly investigated including product name, capacity of the food, package component, package source, food contact area, food contact ratio, and package thickness. The processed foods in Korea can be classified into 16 pack sources and 21 pack components, respectively. By using this information, the data were analyzed specifically. The collected data were analyzed in 8 major categories: frequency of use by pack components and pack sources, pack components by the products, pack sources by the products and pack components, pack thickness/food contact ratio by the products, food contact ratio by pack components and pack sources. Consequently, this survey will provide various information of the packaging characteristics of processed foods in Korea.

Carton clamp truck is widely perceived as the high-efficient handling equipment of factory premises and warehouse by its capability of palletless handling. Therefore, the significance of a lab- based handling simulation is becoming higher with the growth of clamp truck usage. In this study, preliminary FEA and design of handling test courses for the lab-based simulation of carton clamp truck handling were performed, and the PSD analyses were performed for the modified one for the test course proposed by Park et al. (2017) as well as ASTM D 6055 and ISTA 3B standards. For the vibration in all directions, the vibration energy intensity analyzed by ISTA 3B standard showed higher than that by the other two cases. A FEA was performed for the handling operation of the sudden stop of the clamps after lifting the target HCP (heavyweight refrigerator corrugated package, w=180 kgf) up to the specified height. The slip distance between the clamp arm and the target HCP was 0.85 mm. The simulation result of 0.85 mm was 3.7 times lower than the experimental result (3.2 mm) obtained by Park et al. (2017), and it was estimated that the deviation comes from both the experimental error by weight imbalance of target HCP, and excessive simplification during the FE modelling of target HCP.

Proper packaging design can meet both the environmental and economic aspects of packaging materials by reducing the use of packaging materials, waste generation, material costs, and logistics costs. Finite element analysis( FEM) is used as a useful tool in various fields such as structural analysis, heat transfer, fluid motion, and electromagnetic field, but its application in the field of packaging is still insufficient. Therefore, the application of FEM to the field of packaging can save the cost and time in the future research because it is possible to design the package by computer simulation, and it is possible to reduce the packaging waste and logistics cost through proper packaging design. Therefore, this study investigated the FEM papers published in Korea for the purpose of helping research design using FEM program in the field of packaging in the future. In this paper, we analyzed the 29 papers that were directly related to the analysis of FEM papers published in domestic journals from 1991 to 2017. As a result, we analyzed the research topic, FEM program, and analysis method using each paper, and presented the direction that can be applied in future packaging field. When the FEM is applied to the packaging field, it is possible to change the structure and reduce the thickness through the stress and vibration analysis applied to the packaging material, thereby reducing the cost by improving the mechanical strength and reducing the amount of the packaging material. Therefore, in the field of packaging research in the future, if the FEM is performed together, economical and reasonable packaging design will be possible.

The Big Data, the element of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is drawing attention as the 4th Industrial Revolution is mentioned in the 2016 World Economic Forum. Big Data is being used in various fields because it predicts the near future and can create new business. However, utilization and research in the field of packaging are lacking. Today packaging has been demanded marketing elements that effect on consumer choice. Big data is actively used in marketing. In the marketing field, big data can be used to analyze sales information and consumer reactions to produce meaningful results. Therefore, this study proposed a method of applying big data in the field of packaging focusing on marketing. In this study suggest that try to utilize the private data and community data to analyze interaction between consumers and products. Using social big data will enable to understand the preferred packaging and consumer perceptions and emotions in the same product line. It can also be used to analyze the effects of packaging among various components of the product. Packaging is one of the many components of the product. Therefore, it is not easy to understand the impact of a single packaging element. However, this study presents the possibility of using Big Data to analyze the perceptions and feelings of consumers about packaging.