Yeast quality is on the rise with cellophane wrap

January 29, 2014

2 Min Read
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According to AB Brasil, a leading, Latin American producer of fresh yeast, it has cut water loss from its product by nearly 50 percent and has increased product quality and shelf life after replacing its waxed-paper packaging with cellophane. The company, part of Associated British Foods plc, now wraps all of its Fleishmann brand yeast in 360MSB cellophane from Innovia Films (www.films.ucb-group.com) that has also allowed the company to cut its energy costs by reducing its storage temperatures from 12 deg F to 23 deg F.

According to Innovia, the white MSB cellophane being used by AB Brasil is rapidly becoming the industry standard for yeast wrapping in Latin America. Manufactured from renewable wood pulp, the film is coated to provide a barrier to moisture and gas, and to control the amount of carbon dioxide and water produced within the pack during product stocking and distribution.

"Wrapping a live product like fresh yeast means protecting it from contamination while at the same time controlling the amount of water and carbon dioxide it produces," says Clare McKeown, Innovia Films' market manager for Specialty Packaging Films. "It's a challenge requiring a range of technical packaging properties that few materials can match."

Another important feature of the 360MSB cellophane is that it provides a complete bacteriological barrier, which is essential, as fresh yeast is highly susceptible to a variety of external contaminants.

McKeown adds that the film produces a good, strong seal without the need for excessive pressure or heat, so there is no risk of damage to the yeast during packaging, and it can be printed using conventional printing processes.

Handling well on high-speed packaging lines, the film wraps 500-g packs of the Fleishmann yeast at 65 packs/min. Its wide heat-sealing operating window, controlled slip and lack of resistance to coating also results in reduced knife wear, Innovia says.

Innovia Films, Inc., 770/970-8212. www.films.ucb-group.com

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