Food Packaging And Labelling

Question 1

Functions of food packaging

Answer 1

Protects food from becoming damaged or contaminated (best condition for consumer)
Makes transport easier (stacked)
Advertises a food producer and makes their product stand out
Gives information
Increases shelf life and reduces food poisoning

Question 2

Characteristics of good packaging

Answer 2

Hygienic
Increases shelf life
Biodegradable or recyclable
durable 
Moisture proof 
Easy to open and reseal
Economical fo make
Attractive

Question 3

Materials used to package food

Answer 3

Glass eg bottles, jars
Metal eg cans, aerosols
Paper eg egg box, flour bag, burger wrap
Plastic eg PET (water bottles) and LDPE (pasta box)

Question 4

Advantages of using glass

Answer 4

Protects from contamination
Transparent - contents can be seen
Dont crack in heat processing

Question 5

Disadvantages of glass packaging

Answer 5

Heavy -expensive to transport
Easily broken
Expensive to produce
Cannot be printed on

Question 6

Environmental effect of glass

Answer 6

Recyclable
Reusable
Non biodegradable
Avoid careless disposal

Question 7

Metal advantages

Answer 7

Protects from contamination
Easy to stack
Withstand processing

Question 8

Disadvantages of metal

Answer 8

Heavy -expensive to transport
Easy punctured/ dented
Expensive to produce
Cannot be printed on

Question 9

Environmental effect of metal

Answer 9

Recyclable
Reusable
Non biodegradable

Question 10

Paper advantages

Answer 10

Protects from contamination
Cheap to produce
Lightweight -cheap transport
Can be printed on

Question 11

Disadvantages of paper

Answer 11

Doesn’t reseal well
Easily ripped
Not very durable eg wet

Question 12

Environmental impact of paper

Answer 12

Recyclable
Reusable
Biodegradable (unless waterproof )

Question 13

Plastic advantages

Answer 13

Moisture proof
Cheap to produce and transport
Durable
Can be printed on

Question 14

Plastic disadbatges as packaging

Answer 14

Some may contaminate food eg PET breaks down over time releasing toxins the may be carcinogenic
Some are easily damaged

Question 15

Environmental impact of plastic

Answer 15

Recyclable
Reusable
Non biodegradable
Made from crude oil which is limited

Question 16

Governmental initiatives to reduce impact of packaging (2)

Answer 16

Levy on plastic shopping bags (price for plastic shopping bags)
Landfill levy increase (bin charges)

Question 17

Ways consumers can reduce environmental impact of packaging

Answer 17

Use travel mugs
Buy loose fruit and veg
Buy in large volumes rather than individually packaged
Reusable shopping bags
Refill products eg coffee
Compost bin
Buy products with recycled packaging
Use recycling centres eg bottle bank

Question 18

What is modified atmospheric packaging

Answer 18

Proportions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen sealed packaging are different to normal air in roger to extend shelf life eg salad leaves

Question 19

Who enforces EU labelling las in Ireland

Answer 19

Food safety authority of Ireland

Question 20

Under FIC legislation 2011 , labelling on packaging food must include

Answer 20

Name of food
List of ingredients in descending order of weight
Declaration of allergens
Quantity of ingredients %
Met quantity 
Use by date/ best before date
Special storage instructions
Name and address of food business
Country of origin (meats)
Instructions for use
Alcoholic strength

Question 21

What is net quantity

Answer 21

Weight of food without packaging

Question 22

Rules for nutritional labelling of foods

Answer 22

Must be displayed per 100g/100ml
Related to food eg uncooke dpasta
In table form
Must include energy, fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugar, protein, salt

Question 23

Traffic light system

Answer 23

Red - high amounts
Amber
Green -low amounts

Question 24

Labelling requirements for non packaged foods eg deli counter

Answer 24

Declaration of allergens
Name of food
Unit price

Question 25

What is a unit price

Answer 25

Price per kg

Useful for comparing prices

Question 26

Types of food claims

Answer 26

Nutritional eg low fat

Health eg functional foods

Question 27

Love Irish food logo advantages

Answer 27

Encourages people to buy Irish and puts money back into economy
Easier to pick Irish

Question 28

Benefits of barcoding

Answer 28

Printed on receipt, consumer has list of what they purchased

Shops maintain stock