Since the food industry began to expand in the world, several techniques for food preservation have been launched, such as pasteurization and freezing, for example.
In recent decades, with the modernization of this industry and the emergence of many canned foods, plastic and aluminum foil have been added to efforts to preserve these foods.
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However, experts on germs heard by the MSN portal recommend that, when cut for the first time, plastic seals or aluminum foil should be completely removed from food.
The following topics describe the reasons why this practice was recommended by experts. Look!
But after all, what is the purpose of plastic and aluminum foil?
The first expert heard by MSN was Professor Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and writer with extensive knowledge about fungi, bacteria and other agents capable of spoiling food.
According to Tetro, aluminum foil and plastic seal the containers, preventing oxygen from entering. “First of all, they help increase shelf life [the materials]. The container is usually flushed with nitrogen before sealing, which reduces the amount of oxygen inside and prevents the food from spoiling for a longer time”, says the expert.
Finally, the microbiologist says that the sealing elements stop the passage of harmful microorganisms and chemical products. “It helps prevent the introduction of chemicals and microbes that can spoil products and/or cause illness,” explains Jason Tetro.
When asked, Jack A. Gilbert, who holds a PhD in microbial ecology and is a professor at the University of California San Diego, pointed out that seals are also an important food quality control mechanism.
Gilbert notes that plastic and aluminum foil create a barrier between the contents of packages of yogurts, creams, cheeses, meats and other products, ensuring quality. In addition, when consumers see a sealed package, they can be sure that the product is safe for consumption.
But when and why to remove the food seal?
Jason Tetro further explained that once breached, plastic or foil seals must be completely removed. The microbiologist explains that, under these conditions, the seal is no longer of much use.
“Once the seal is broken, the surrounding air and oxygen can enter the product and this will initiate microbial growth,” says Tetro. “Whether the seal is still there or not doesn't matter anymore. Its only objective is to take the product from the factory to your kitchen safely”, explains the professor.
To finalize his recommendations, Jason Tetro recalls that when they are “decorated” in containers, the seals serve as a proliferation site for bacteria and fungi harmful to health.
For this reason, the expert recommends that seals be removed as soon as they are opened. If the food is not for quick consumption, the user must find another way to preserve it, such as keeping it in the refrigerator or frozen, for example.
Graduated in History and Human Resources Technology. Passionate about writing, today he lives the dream of acting professionally as a Content Writer for the Web, writing articles in different niches and different formats.
