• Vaccum Packaging : It is a procedure in which air is drawn out of the package prior to sealing but no other gases are introduced. This technique has been used for many years for products such as cured meats and cheese.


• Vaccum Packaging : It is a procedure in which air is drawn out of the package prior to sealing but no other gases are introduced. This technique has been used for many years for products such as cured meats and cheese.


• Controlled atmosphere (CA) : This refers to a storage atmosphere that is different from the normal atmosphere in its composition, wherein the component gases are precisely adjusted to specific concentrations and maintained throughout the storage and distribution of the perishable foods. The system requires sophisticated instruments to monitor the gas levels and is therefore practical only for refrigerated bulk storage or shipment of commodities in large containers.


• Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) :is a procedure which involves replacing air inside a package with a predetermined mixture of gases prior to sealing it. The gases involved in modified atmosphere packaging, as applied commercially today, are carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen.

SOME NOVEL PACKAGING METHODS:

• Biodegradable Packaging : The present global concern about petrochemical - based plastic materials has generated much interest in biodegradable, or " green" packaging materials. "Biodegradable plastic" is defined as a degradable plastic in which the degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae.


• Active Packaging : Active packaging is an innovative concept that can be defined as a mode of packaging in which the package, the product and the environment interact to prolong shelf-life or enhance safety or sensory properties, while maintaining the quality of the product . It allows the active preservation of foods, according to their needs, by modification of the environment inside the package by removing undesired gases or by regulating the composition of the gas in the package headspace.


• Edible Packaging : Edible packaging is defined as a thin layer of edible material formed on a food as a coating or placed (preformed) on or between food components.Natural polymers have been studied extensively for the development of edible packaging. A variety of polysaccharides (starch and hydrocolloids), proteins (whey proteins, soybean proteins and fish proteins) and lipids have been used, either individually or in mixtures, to produce edible films.


• Intelligent or Smart Packaging: Intelligent, or smart packaging is basically designed to monitor and communicate information about food quality . It is essentially an integrating method that deals with mechanical, chemical, electrical and/or electronically driven functions that enhance the usability or effectiveness of the food product in a proven way .


• Nano Packaging: Nanotechnology enables designers to alter the structure of packaging materials on the molecular scale, in order to give the material the desired properties. • With different nanostructures, plastics can be given various gas and water vapor permeabilities to fit the requirements of various foods. These properties can significantly increase the shelf - life and sensory characteristics of food products, and facilitate transportation and usage.