Column Saskia Stender: Intelligent packaging

In the food industry, we're seeing how intelligent packaging truly makes a difference. It assists in keeping food safe and indicates the origin of its contents. These technologies aren't just a minor step forward; they're changing the entire game regarding food safety and traceability. By employing smart solutions, we demonstrate our serious commitment to the quality and safety of what we produce.

However well we manage the processes, things can still go wrong. At the time of writing this column, there's a massive recall of various sweets due to metal particles found in the products – particles so small they went undetected by metal detectors.

Consumers are questioning: "Couldn't they have installed better metal detectors?", "Why was it only discovered after all the products were already on the shelves?", "How safe is our food really?". What particularly stands out to consumers is the sheer variety of brands coming from the same factory. We strive to be unique, not just in recipes but certainly in packaging. With all the new legislation, it's not getting any easier, and consumers are quite demanding, opting for attractive, stylish, flashy packaging that unfortunately is not (or hardly) recyclable. Everything must be sustainable... but a dull package gets ignored.

It's a significant challenge for food producers and packagers to keep up with the latest technologies and increasingly stringent packaging legislation; ensuring shelf life, quality, and food safety. And at the end of the day, still making a profit. As a business owner, you really need to be quite clever yourself.

Saskia Stender