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According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately 925 million people in the world are underfed. Furthermore, UNICEF reports that 22 per cent of children are underweight. In countries where poverty and food insecurity are widespread, daily assistance is required to meet basic needs. Something as simple as milk, which is vital to a child’s development, has trouble reaching communities where poor infrastructure makes transportation and refrigeration a challenge. It is becoming increasingly evident that food processing and packaging innovation are critical to providing safe and nutritious food to communities in need.
One solution, an innovation called aseptic technology, which Tetra Pak introduced widely, allows for traditionally perishable food products, even sensitive ones like milk, to be shelf-stable without the need for refrigeration, chemicals, or preservatives. Tetra Pak’s aseptic processing and packaging are currently being used to help develop and support school milk programs in over 50 countries across different continents, delivering safe, nutritious foods to schools in need. Such programs have proven to have political, economic, and social benefits. In Thailand, for example, over a period of 15 years, the school milk program increased milk drinking per capita by 10 times, improved health conditions for children, created approximately 250,000 new jobs, and reduced reliance on imports of milk.
Similarly, through the Zambia Milk for Schools program launched in June 2011, 15,000 students each receive 250ml of milk two to three times a day in aseptic cartons. The program – which Tetra Pak launched in partnership with the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency, World Food Programme Zambia, Parmalat Zambia, the Zambian government, and local stakeholders – provides a market for the smallholder dairy sector, diversifies the agricultural sector, and creates demand for high-quality, locally produced milk. It is expected that this project will not only increase per-capita milk consumption and economic growth along the value chain, but will also increase school attendance and improve children’s health and academic results. This will lead to general productivity improvements for the entire country.
Something as simple as aseptic carton packaging has revolutionized how consumers drink milk. Aseptic technology, which the Institute of Food Technologists has described as the greatest food-science innovation of the 20th century, continues to be beneficial for people from all geographies, economic backgrounds, and social groups. The cartons are lightweight and easy to produce, transport, and distribute, their value lasts longer, and they help make food safe and available everywhere. Ready-to-drink packaged products also eliminate concerns about storage, hygiene, and water quality.
Aseptic technology ensures that food and packaging materials are free from harmful bacteria. During processing, products like milk are sterilized using ultra-high temperature systems. The product is then packaged in aseptic cartons, also known as shelf-stable cartons, which ensure that air, light, and harmful bacteria are kept out.
Whether you are in Zambia, Thailand, or Canada, food safety and nutrition are important concerns. Technology and packaging innovation continue to play a pivotal role in creating packaging systems that improve food safety around the world.
Photo courtesy of Reuters.
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