Will Hydrogen Spark A New Era Of Food-Packaging Integrity Testing?

By Isaac Fletcher, contributing writer, Food Online

By using hydrogen gas to detect defects in food packaging, a new, innovative development may allow producers to increase production efficiency, lower food waste, and cut operational costs

A new technology called MAPAX L, developed by the Linde Group, may improve the food-packaging process by detecting faults within modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Food packaging flaws, such as poor sealing, tears, and small holes, can result in increased production costs, reduced shelf-life, and higher rates of spoilage. In some situations, an entire batch of products may end up being recalled and re-packaged. Large batches of product with faulty packaging can also lead to penalties from food regulators and, more importantly, put consumer safety at risk.

With the ability to analyze each and every item in a production process, the new technology will eliminate the randomness in sampling that occurs in most, traditional quality checks. When packaging is tested using a random sample method, there is a degree of likelihood that defective packaging can slip through production. The MAPAX LD analyzes and detects faulty packaging as part of the overall production line, which effectively eliminates the chance of defective packaging going undetected.

The technology functions by using food-grade hydrogen gas to detect faults in the packaging. The gas is introduced during the sealing stage, before the package passes through a sensor. If the sensor detects gas, an alarm is activated and the item is removed from the production line with minimal interruption to the packaging process. Compared to water-based methods — that will likely destroy food items once immersed — the hydrogen method is non-destructive and preserves the food product in the event that the packaging is defective. The item can be removed from the production line and repackaged, reducing food waste and cutting costs.

Additionally, this system can be used to identify faulty settings on the packaging machine. Once errors are discovered, production can be paused and settings adjusted accordingly to reduce additional instances of defective packaging. Early detection increases production efficiency and helps reduce additional costs incurred by faulty packages.