2 Types of food and prevention of deterioration

In this chapter, one of the main reasons for packaging foods that was introduced in Chapter 1 - prevention of deterioration during storage - is covered in more detail. First the types of foods that are commonly produced by small to medium-scale processors are briefly described. This is followed by the main ways in which these foods spoil, together with other hazards that foods face during storage and distribution. The role of packaging in protecting foods against a variety of hazards is then described and the typical extension of shelf-life that arises from correct packaging is shown.