Aluminium Foil as a Food Packaging Material in Comparison with Other Materials

Aluminium foil is an important material in laminates and has wide application in food packaging. Its barrier function against the migration of moisture, oxygen and other gases, and volatile aroma, as well as against the impact of light is generally higher than any plastic laminate material. Therefore, aluminium foil is used in the laminates when insufficient barrier properties are the limiting factor for shelf-life stability of food. The barrier properties of aluminium-coated plastic laminates, which can offer an alternative to aluminium foil laminates, are somewhat less efficient. The use of aluminium foil in rigid, semirigid, and flexible package for in-pack thermal processing allows the selection of package geometries that ensure rapid heating and minimum heat damage during processing. On the tightness of packages, the mechanical stability and quality of sealing is of particular importance. The chemical stability of aluminium foil in contact with food depends on the composition of the food items. With present toxicological knowledge, the use of aluminium in packaging material is considered to be safe, and inner-coating of the foil is recommended in specific cases.