RETORT POUCH

A retort pouch is a type of food packaging made from multiple layers of flexible laminates like PET, AL, NYLON, PE etc..

Retort pouches allow for the sterile packaging of a wide variety of food and drink, ranging from water to fully cooked, thermo-stabilized high-caloric meals such as Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs) which can be eaten cold, warmed by submersing in hot water, or through the use of a flameless ration heater(used by militaries)

A retort pouch is a plastic and metal foil laminate pouch that is used as an alternative to traditional industrialcanning methods.

Some varieties have a bottom gusset and are known as Stand-Up Pouches. A spout can also be added on the top.

Advantages

Processing time is reduced by *0%

Increased storage space

Reduced shipping cost

Pouch also has good self appeal and a growing acceptance by consumers

Origin

Retort pouch was invented by the United States Army Natick R&D Command, Reynolds Metals Company, and Continental Flexible Packaging, who jointly received the Food Technology Industrial Achievement Award for its invention in ***8.

Construction

A retort pouch is constructed from a flexible metal-plastic laminate which is able to withstand thermal processing used for sterilisation.

Starting from outside, the layers are:

• polyester PET Provides a gloss and rigid layer, may be printed inside.
• nylon Bi-Oriented Polyamide, provides puncture resistance.
• aluminum Al Provides a very thin but effective gas barrier
• food-grade PE or CPP is used as the sealing layer

How is retort Pouch used

The food is first prepared, even raw or semicooked, and then sealed into the retort pouch. The pouch is then heated to ******0°F (******1°C) for several minutes under high pressure, inside retort or autoclave machines.

The food inside is cooked, similar to pressure cooking.

The packaging process is very similar to canning, except that the package itself is flexible.

The lamination structure doesn't allow permeation of gases from outside into the pouch.

POPULARITY

In the consumer market, retort pouches have gained great popularity outside of the United States, particularly in the Pacific Rim region.

Tuna canns have been replaced by retort pouches. Brands such asCapri Sun,Tasty Bite etc have extensively used such pouches.

Quotation?

Contact me with your specification on layer structure, thickness, size and artwork(if any).