WO2014019038A1 - Food-safe, antimicrobial multilayered packaging - Google Patents

Description

 ANTIMICROBIAN AND ATOXIC FOOD MULTI-LAYER PACKAGING

 Technological sector of the invention

 The present invention belongs generally to the food packaging technology sector and more specifically relates to an antimicrobial and non-toxic multilayer packaging capable of packaging food and ensuring its physical, chemical and microbiological integrity.

 The proposed packaging consists of layers made of special active materials and principles that make it active and capable of eliminating microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that promote premature food spoilage.

 The invention guarantees all the traditional protection conditions of a common packaging, however, due to its antimicrobial characteristic, it eliminates microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi inside. This differential makes the packaging object of the invention capable of extending shelf-life of products on the shelf and increasing consumer safety without compromising product quality.

 Known prior art

The state of the art of this technology sector comprises packaging with antimicrobial principles, but these conventional packages are composed of only a single layer, ie monolayer packaging. Regarding the manufacturing process, the monolayer linear extrusion technique is employed to manufacture these packages. To confer antimicrobial property these packages are manufactured with silver and / or triclosan-based biocidal additives, ie commercial compounds. For example, the commercial line of Irgaguard® additives (BASF / CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS) and silver and nanoprotein based compounds (NANOX) are mentioned.

 A problem related to these monolayer packages relates to the fact that the single layer needs to be considerably thick as it assumes also the structural function of the package. This has a significant impact on the cost increase of a part because additives are too expensive and the high thickness implies the use of more additives. Many application possibilities are eliminated due to the high cost of packaging.

 Moreover, because they have only one layer, these conventional packages are subject to significant interactions with the external environment, which causes degradation of their active principle. The active ingredients used are ionic or molecular species that easily oxidize in the presence of oxygen (or other free radicals). These reactions are accelerated by increased temperature and exposure to light. Thus, these packages have potentially short antimicrobial action time.

 It is noteworthy that these conventional monolayer packages are limited in the type of external finish they can receive, as it occurs to the reaction of varnishes and paints applied with the antimicrobial active principles, which leads to the neutralization of the principle.

Additionally, the use of silver and / or triclosan-based biocidal additives is problematic since such products have been questioned regarding their toxicity. These compounds may be harmful to human health at certain ingestion levels in view of their absence in human and animal organisms. Silver can cause neurological problems, kidney problems, indigestion and headaches. Regarding triclosan, the possibility of promoting cancer formation is known. Both are already under intense question by the health research community and are being rejected by packaging manufacturers.

 Novelty and objectives of the invention

 The present invention relates to an antimicrobial multilayer package produced with zinc based antimicrobial additive. Zinc is an element present in the metabolic systems of humans and animals, so that in many situations of nutrition and medicines it is added in view of the vital need of humans and animals for this chemical element. Thus, it is not considered toxic and gives the packaging the great advantage and differential of being non-toxic. This feature will greatly facilitate their market acceptance and easy release by regulatory bodies such as ANVISA, Animal Health Bodies and others.

The proposed packaging is produced with the concept of functional multilayers. The active (antimicrobial) layer is on the inside of the package and in contact with the food packaging medium. Thus, this layer is protected from the external environment and its active principle isolated and absent from reactions with oxygen or other free radicals present in the atmosphere. It is Design ensures greater durability of antimicrobial principle and longer antimicrobial action time for packaging. It gives the food greater safety and longer time, and increases the shelf life of stored products.

 The multilayer configuration guarantees on the outside of the packaging layers without the active principle, but with structural and finishing functions. Not being the antimicrobial outer layer the packaging can accept any visual finishing art. In this way it is possible to print images with traditional inks and varnishes without reacting with the active principle.

 As the active inner layer has no structural function, it is feasible to produce packages with small thicknesses. As a result, small thicknesses require smaller amounts of polymers and especially smaller amounts of active ingredients. Since active ingredients account for most of the cost of packaging, this differential certainly guarantees the economic viability of antimicrobial multilayer packaging over traditional single-layer packaging.

 Description of the attached drawings

In order for the present invention to be fully understood and its teachings to be practiced by any person skilled in the art, it will be explained clearly and sufficiently on the basis of the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of a non-exhaustive number of possible embodiments thereof without having the purpose of limiting the scope of protection to these particular examples only, in which: Figure 1 perspective view of a two-layer package manufactured in accordance with the principles of the invention.

 Figure 2 perspective view of a three layer package manufactured in accordance with the principles of the invention.

 Figure 3 perspective view of a multilayer package manufactured in accordance with the principles of the invention.

 Detailed Description of the Invention

 The present invention relates to an antimicrobial and non-toxic food multilayer package comprising at least two layers having specific functions, wherein the inner layer (1) must have an antimicrobial function, preferably consisting of a polymeric material with any additive. zinc-based compound, which performs the antimicrobial function, associated with an outer layer (2).

 The inner layer (1) is not restricted to just one additive or polymer, but any antimicrobial additive, preferably zinc based for the absence of toxicity, and any compatible polymer. Suitable polymers for the inner layer constitution include, but are not limited to: LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, EVOH, PET, NYLON, PVC, PP, BOPP or other non-toxic polymer compatible with the antimicrobial additive.

The package may consist of multiple layers in which each layer will have specific functions. Thus, the other layers may be made of any polymer or any other material of interest, ie LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, EVOH, PET, NYLON, PVC, PP, BOPP or other polymer, or aluminum films, or adhesives, or other materials. It depends on the functions they will perform and the physical and chemical properties that will be required of them according to the characteristics and properties required by the products to be packaged. At first there is no restriction on the number of layers that will make up the package. Packaging can be manufactured from two layers to the required quantity requested by the project.

Multilayer packaging should be produced with layers that perform important functions in the multilayer system as packaging. Each layer has its own function and contributes to the fundamental performance of the multilayer packaging in its antimicrobial protection function. The intermediate layers preferably perform the blocking / barrier function of undesirable compounds to the food or active ingredient. They thus contribute to the efficiency and durability of antimicrobial function. The outer layers have structural and receiving function of the packaging art. The structural layers are sized to prevent fractures from being generated during use of the packages, which would expose the active inner layers to the outer environment (which would decrease the efficiency and durability of the active principle). They also guarantee good weldability in their application, allowing the generation of vacuum and at the same time the tightness of the packaging medium (increases the efficiency and durability of the antimicrobial function). Referring now to the accompanying figures, we see that two-layer film illustrated in Figure 1 is provided with an outer layer (2), which has the function of receiving the aesthetic finish (art) of the package, providing structural support to the package and acting as protection barrier of antimicrobial additive. The inner layer (1) is a thermo sealable layer with antimicrobial additive, which has direct contact with the food, that is, the food packaging medium is surrounded by the inner layer (1).

 In Figure 2 we see another embodiment of the invention, wherein the package consists of three layers: an inner layer (1) with antimicrobial additive, surrounding the food packaging medium; an outer layer (2) which receives the aesthetic finish of the package and provides structural support and; an intermediate layer (3) having barrier properties against moisture, gases and the antimicrobial additive.

 Finally, Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a seven-layer package consisting of an inner layer with antimicrobial additive (1) and an outer layer with finishing functions (2), limiting a series of intermediate layers: a structural layer. (4), a gas barrier layer (5), another structural layer (6), a moisture barrier layer (7) and an antimicrobial additive barrier layer (8).

We see, therefore, that there are numerous possibilities of packaging composition, depending on the desired properties. The above cases are merely examples of possible embodiments of the proposed concept and have no In order to limit the scope of protection only to them, on the contrary, this report aims to understand any and all embodiments that fall within the inventive concept presented.

 This descriptive report is an invention with industrial application, novelty and inventive activity, and is covered by all the requirements determined by the industrial property law to receive the claimed privilege.

Claims

Claims:  1- ANTIMICROBIAN AND ATOXIC FOOD MULTI-LAYER PACKAGING characterized in that it consists of at least two layers with specific functions, where the inner layer (1) is a polymeric layer with antimicrobial function, additive with any zinc-based compound, while The outer layer (2) has the function of receiving the artistic finishing of the packaging and acting as a structural support.  2. ANTIMICROBIAN AND ATOXIC MULTI-LAYER FOOD PACKAGING as claimed in 1 and further characterized in that the inner layer consists of polymer chosen from the group consisting of LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, EVOH, PET, NYLON, PVC, PP, BOPP or other non-toxic polymer. and compatible with antimicrobial additive.  3. ANTIMICROBIAN AND ATOXIC MULTI-LAYER FOOD PACKAGING as claimed in 1 and further characterized in that the intermediate layers are manufactured from polymers chosen from the group consisting of LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, EVOH, PET, NYLON, PVC, PP, BOPP.  4. ANTIMICROBIAN AND ATOXIC MULTI-LAYER FOOD PACKAGING as claimed in 1 and further characterized in that the intermediate layers are made of aluminum films or adhesives. 5. ANTIMICROBIAN AND ATOXIC MULTI-LAYER FOOD PACKAGING as claimed in 1 and further characterized by the intermediate layers playing blocking / barrier functions of undesirable compounds to the food or active ingredient.  6- ANTIMICROBIAN AND ATOXIC FOOD MULTI LAYER PACKAGING as claimed in 5 and further characterized in that the lock / barrier functions include gas barrier, moisture barrier and the active principle itself.  7. PACKAGING ANTIMICROBIAN AND ATOXIC FOOD LAYERS as claimed in 1 and further characterized in that one or more structural layers are interspersed.