Most of the food we eat is loaded with chemicals. From emulsifiers to dough conditioners, any processed food you eat contains a considerable percentage of preservatives. If you get a chance to see ingredients label on food boxes you will find several chemicals with long scientific names which you might be unable to understand. Preservatives usually fall in the categories of sulfites, propionates, benzoates, nitrates, and chelates. Their main purpose is to keep your food fresh, increase its shelf life, fight the spoilage caused by bacteria and delay rancidity. It’s the reason that your edibles remain safe in sealed food and beverage boxes for months. Although the use of such preservatives has been approved by the FDA and they are generally considered safe but the biggest side-effect of using them is that they affect the quality of food. They make it less healthy to consume. The preservatives are found in a good amount in baked items too. It’s the reason that most of the food chains especially the bakery owners have started using fewer preservatives these days to keep their food healthy.
Artificial Preservatives vs. Natural Preservatives:
Preservatives are found in every food. Whether its cookie boxes, French fry cartons, dessert boxes, beverage packaging, or frozen food boxes wholesale, you will find a long list of added chemicals to increase the shelf life of the products. However, the preservatives used by the box food company fall under two categories i.e. natural and artificial. Natural methods of preserving foods include additives like salt, sugar, vinegar or castor oil, etc. However, they are better than artificial preservatives but prove harmful to health when eaten in excess. Artificial preservatives are the synthetic chemicals manufactured in laboratories. Their presence in food makes it less healthy. Such preservatives are extensively used in the baking and food industry.
Harmful effects of Preservatives on Health:
It’s hard to deny tempting food boxes to go or freshly prepared takeout containers wholesale. Even if any of your loved ones send food subscription boxes you can’t wait for enough to put the food into the mouth. Before making yourself habitual of such food, just consider how these preservatives are damaging your health.
- The most possible harmful effect of preservatives is a trigger for breathing problems like asthma and bronchitis.
- It causes hyperactive behavior among children.
- Sustained and excess consumption of artificial preservatives weakens the heart tissues. It is especially dangerous for old aged people.
- The food packed in wholesale food boxes might contain BHA and BHT additives which are cancer-causing. BHT is usually used in cereals while BHA is present in potatoes, meats, and other baked items. Therefore whenever you get your meal delivered food delivery boxes suppliers always make a check o what additives are present in it.
- Preservatives lead to obesity. Processed foods contain fatty acids, making it one of the unhealthiest choices ever.
Demand For Fewer Preservatives Spurs New Packaging Solutions:
With the increase in awareness, the consumers of today prefer to take a healthy take-in. Baked products contain a considerable amount of preservatives to increase their shelf life. This has indulged the bakery owners and packaging box manufacturers in a struggle to find new packaging solutions with fewer preservatives. Over the last few years, packaging materials have evolved to meet new demands, especially in the snack and bakery market. Here are some of the most viable options:
- Eco-friendly food packaging:
The desire for longer life, fewer preservatives, and healthy eating have prompted the need for lightweight paper boxes with thinner barrier material and convenience features. As the consumption cycle of packaged foods is growing longer, the packaging should work to preserve and extend the freshness of perishable products. Corrugated food boxes brown paper packaging are a perfect choice for this. They promote health concerns, reduce the use of preservatives, and offer sustainability benefits.
- Zip-lock and other New Concepts:
The change towards less preservative has led to innovate with zipper reclosure feature packages, window food boxes, and other consumer convenience options. The improvements in material and zipper-application equipment have allowed the creation of more lightweight, more-sustainable packaging. Lightweight material extends shelf life and offers sustainability benefits. Let us take the example of these zip-lock packages for cookies. The product is placed and sealed inside aluminum foil plastic bag and then in custom cookie boxes if needed.
- Active Packaging:
It is a mode of packaging in which the product placed in food tray sleeves and the environment interact to improve the shelf life, monitor freshness, maintain quality, and display information more effectively. Different active packaging technologies are available starting from oxygen-absorbing pads to perforated film, moisture barriers, and coating technologies. Modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) is tried and tested especially for the bakery sector. Nanotechnology has good potential in this area because of its ability to restrain microbial growth. Such innovations in packaging have reduced the use of preservatives to a great extent.
