Food Safe Shrink Wrap: Enhancing Freshness and Safety

Shrink wrap is an essential material for many food producers for its protection of baked goods, produce, raw meats, and more.

However, an essential consideration for any product used in food storage is safety. Is shrink wrap safe for food? And what materials are best suited for food-safe shrink wrap?

In this post, we look at the safe use of shrink wrap, the most common materials used in food-safe shrink wrap, and the best practices for shrink-wrapping food.

What Is Food-Safe Shrink Wrap? 

Before understanding what food-safe shrink wrap is, we must first clarify what we mean by shrink wrap.

Shrink wrap is a type of plastic material that shrinks around, and conforms to the shape of, a product when combined with heat. This, in combination with a seal around the product, will help fully enclose the item. The full enclosure can help to protect from tampering, keep small pieces from spilling, hold products in place, provide company branding, extend freshness, and offer an affordable packaging option.

Reducing moisture and air also makes shrink-wrapping an option for short-term freezer storage. Thicker materials can help to extend the life of freezer storage. Barrier shrink bags should also be considered if seeking more extended freezer storage. The complete air removal and thicker bags help products in cold storage for extended periods.

Food-safe shrink wrap includes any FDA-approved material, such as polyolefin centerfold wrap best used for chocolates and baked goods. Barrier shrink wrap is required to remove all oxygen from the packaging, preserving food longer.

For more information on the different products available, check out our shrink wrap guide.

Which Is the Most Common Material for Food-Safe Shrink Wrap? 

Polyolefin shrink wrap contains the most desirable properties for food-safe packaging and is one of the most widely used shrink wrap products.

There are other food packaging alternatives, and it ultimately matters if the material will come into direct contact with the consumable materials. PVC is not recommended for food packaging because of the chloride released when heated; however, if the edible items are already in a box, PVC can cover the box.

Due to its relatively high strength, polyethylene is more often used for larger and heavier loads, while polyolefin is the food-safe alternative for perishables that need clean, non-toxic wrapping. Crosslinked polyolefin shrink film is often preferred. It is food safe, and the irradiation sterilizes the film in production.

Barrier shrink materials are co-extruded and made to have an oxygen barrier keeping air from re-entering once removed. The material is often two mils or thicker to form a significant oxygen barrier.

Is Saran Wrap the Same as Shrink Wrap? 

Saran wrap is not shrink wrap, but it can still be used as food-safe packaging as it does not contain BPA. Food plastic cling wrap will melt when heat is applied.

BPA stands for Bisphenol A – a chemical used in some polymers that are highly toxic to food and cannot be used in any plastic wrap that will be used to store food. Saran wrap (polyethylene) does not contain BPA, meaning that it is non-toxic to food, and is considered food-safe.

Check out our range of cost-effective, safe, and high-quality polyolefin shrink bags for all your food-safe packaging needs.

What Are the Benefits of Food-Safe Shrink Wrap? 

Food-safe shrink wrap is essential for hygienic and non-toxic wrapping and storage thanks to several essential benefits:

• High Protection Levels: Once heat sealed, food shrink wrap can create a tight, protected enclosure that protects food from dust, dirt, and weather-related effects. Some shrink wrap also protects against UV rays.
• Durability: Shrink wrap is made from many interlocking, durable long-chain polymers. This increases tensile strength, making the material harder to pierce, tear, and destroy. This makes shrink wrap durable for shipping and protecting food.
• Versatility: One shrink wrap roll to fit the largest item and the right machine can accommodate all smaller products needing to be packaged.
• Water-Resistance: Due to its tight polymer chains, food-safe shrink wrap can also protect from wet environmental conditions such as rain, snow, or spillages for short periods if a full seal is made around the wrapped product(s).
• Cost-Efficiency: Food-safe shrink wrap is often more cost-effective to produce and manufacture than other packaging methods. Start-up costs can be minimal for lower production equipment.
• Tamper Evident: Shrink wrap is noticeable when open or punctured. It ensures customers nothing has degraded the items inside the package.

Does Shrink Wrap Keep Food Fresh?

Shrink wrap can help keep foods fresh. The coverage over the item will help reduce oxygen exposure. Most shrink wrap has one or multiple vent holes to allow air to escape when the material is shrinking. The vent holes and non-barrier properties of standard heat shrink wrap materials prevent an air-tight seal.

Does Shrink Wrap Extend Shelf Life?

For many products, shrink wrap will not extend shelf life because it lacks an oxygen barrier. It will help keep bread or produce tasting fresh, but not necessarily extend the overall shelf life. Barrier packaging is recommended for extending shelf life.

Is PVC Shrink Wrap Food Safe?

PVC can potentially emit chloride, carbon, and other harmful odors when heated, which could potentially be considered toxic to food products. This is why centerfold PVC wrap is not FDA-approved, while polyolefin shrink wrap is. PVC is used for packaging containers with edible products, but not for direct food contact. There are some food films made from food safe PVC. Be sure to ask your supplier if the material is safe for direct contact.

Is Shrink Wrapping Food Safe?

Shrink wrapping food with toxic products isn’t encouraged. However, when using the proper materials, shrink wrapping food is safe and benefits the producers and consumers.

Even heat sensitive items such as chocolates and cheeses can be wrapped with the suitable materials and settings.

What are everyday shrink wrap products used with consumable foods? 

There are many different forms of shrink wrapping; some are better suited to preserving food than others.

Below are some common shrink wrapping methods in food packaging:

• Centerfold Shrink Wrap: Folded in the middle lengthways and placed on a roll, centerfold shrink wrap allows for quick and easy food Packaging.
• Shrink Wrap Bags: Only requires one seal to fully enclose the product. The perfect option for low-volume cookie or baked good packaging.
• Singlewound Shrink Wrap: Food safe singlewound shrink wrap comes off the roll flat and is used for packaging a variety of consumable products. Meat in foam trays is packaged with a single wound meat film. Take out pizza, baked goods, and produce can be wrapped with food safe single wound shrink wrap.
• Barrier Shrink Wrap: Reducing the oxygen content within a package and keeping it out is the primary purpose of barrier packaging. Bags are common because they only requiring one seal for a full enclosure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What Is Food Grade Plastic Wrap?

A: Food-grade plastic wrap is a protective film most commonly made from a form of polyethylene. It is mainly used for packing fresh or cooked food products for safe and hygienic storage. It is called ‘food grade’ plastic wrap because it is made from materials deemed safe for contact with food by regulatory bodies. Many times it will have cling to help it stick together. 

Q: Do You Need a Heat Sealer for Shrink Wrap?

A: Not all forms of shrink wrapping require a heat sealer. To fully enclose the item, a sealer is highly recommended. Either heat tunnels or heat guns are used to shrink products for conformity after a seal has been made.

Q: Are Shrink Bags Food Safe?

A: Like other shrink wrapping products, it is essential to know what the bags are made from and if FDA regulations consider them food-safe. Polyolefin shrink bags are common for food packaging as well as thicker barrier bags made from co-extruded materials.