Why is importance of food processing and food packaging?

Answer 1

The evolution of, and continuous innovation to food preservation techniques over the years has been necessary for subsistence across the globe. Preventing the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other micro-organisms for the sake of storing food can be achieved through many diverse methods. Processes as simple as drying and salting have evolved into more modern techniques such as irradiation and high pressure food preservation. Innovations to preservation practices are instrumental to the agricultural and manufacturing industries, the military, and to an extent, the survival of many developing nations. Increasing the shelf life of food has many obvious benefits -a larger food supply leads to lower prices for consumers and perishable foods become more transportable, to name a few. New preservation technologies are not just working to increase longevity, they are also functioning to sustain the same qualities of the food that make it desirable in the first place. The physical characteristics and chemical composition of the food will no longer be compromised during the preservation process. Studies have indicated that meat products, for example pork and tuna, have the potential to remain edible for seven to eight years (1). With new techniques such as high-pressure processing (HPP) and innovations to packaging materials, meals maintain their same fresh qualities over the course of their stowage.

Answer 2

To limit the exposure to ambient bacteria, pathogens or air which will cause it to spoil.