Baby food packaging has evolved from traditional glass jars to plastic containers and bags for practicality and freshness. Mason jars are still used for purees, while dry foods are packaged in boxes or tubs. Plastic packaging is more portable and requires less heating time, resulting in increased flavor and nutrients. Ready-to-eat meals come in bowl-shaped containers or sealed plastic trays. Microwaveable tubs and sealed plastic trays are also used for older children’s food.
Baby food packaging for baby food purees has traditionally been glass jars. New needs for practicality and freshness have given way to trends involving plastic, sealed containers and bags. Dry baby foods, such as cereal, rice puffs and crackers, are usually packaged in boxes or tubs. Ready-to-eat meals for babies and toddlers are often available in bowl-shaped containers or sealed plastic trays.
Pures of different thicknesses and textures are often available in mason jars, which have been a common form of baby food packaging for decades. The processing of potted purees is similar to home-preserved, and the containers are sterilized and sealed by being cooked at high heat for an extended period of time. Mason jars of baby food usually have a shelf life of about a year. The taste and nutritional quality are mostly preserved, although the process can compromise some of the flavour.
Demand for unbreakable baby food packaging and milder processing procedures has given way to plastic packaging in recent years. These innovations include containers with lids and sealed, foil pouches, which may have zip locks or resealable zip locks. These are more portable than glass and do not require a lengthy heating process during packaging, resulting in increased flavor and nutrients in the final product. Although baby foods packaged in plastic are heated to the same temperature as those stored in glass, the temperature can be maintained 25% to 40% less time, while properly sterilizing the product.
Dry rice and oatmeal baby cereals are usually sealed in plastic bags contained in cardboard boxes or in plastic tubs sealed with foil. Since these are dry packed, they usually have a shelf life of one to two years. Some packs have built-in spouts, so small amounts of cereal can be dispensed, mixed with liquids, and served, without exposing the rest of the cereal in the pack to outside elements. Rice puffs, often marketed as an ideal first finger food for babies, are often packaged in plastic tubs, and teething crackers or biscuits are usually available in plastic wrappers sealed in cardboard boxes.
Baby food packaging intended for babies and toddlers can be packaged in a similar way to adult food. For example, microwaveable tubs can hold dry chunks of pasta, meat, and vegetables that can be mixed with water and heated. Some products come in sealed plastic trays that contain small portions of food suitable for older children. These are usually heated up and served instantly.
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