New methods for improving food product safety and communication

When purchasing food products, consumers have to be confident that the products are safe and fresh. Most food products are packed and the product package should give all the necessary information and, at the same time, promote the product and the brand. In addition, new tendencies towards to new renewable and biodegradable packages that reduce the use of oil-based raw materials and restrain the continuously worsening littering call more sustainable packaging solutions. These requirements represent challenges for the food production chain and new methods for improving product safety, communication and authenticity guarantee have to be developed. This paper presents new methods that have been developed for these specific purposes for the food production chain. These methods include new kind of barrier layer for decreasing leakage and migration of substances (through the package and from the packaging material), inkjet printed leakage indicator for detecting if the package containing modified atmosphere that protect the packed food has been leaking thus causing food spoilage, and markings done directly on food products in order to improve authenticity, traceability and thus product safety.