Food packaging laminates
The invention relates to a flexible packaging. Specifically, this invention relates to a laminate, the use of the laminate in the packaging of food, drinks, medicine and toys, and a corresponding package. The laminate can be a film-to-film and film-to-foil laminates, suitable for typical food packaging uses, using hot melt laminating adhesives. Such laminates are substantially fee from volatile contaminates, especially migratable isocyanates and aromatic amines.
1 . A method of packaging a food, the method comprising:
surrounding a food with a flexible laminate,
the flexible laminate being substantially free of migratable isocyanates and migratable aromatic amines and comprising
a first flexible substrate,
a non-reactive hot-melt adhesive composition, and
a second flexible substrate bonded to the first substrate through the hot-melt adhesive composition,
the hot-melt adhesive composition comprising thermoplastic polymer and tackifying agent,
the first and second flexible substrates being selected from the group consisting of polymer film, metallized polymer film, foil and combinations thereof.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the flexible laminate into a bag-like structure.
3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising sealing the bag-like structure.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the flexible laminate into a bag-like structure prior to surrounding the food with the flexible laminate.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the surrounding comprises placing the food in the bag-like structure.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a vacuum to the package and sealing the package.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising heat sealing a first surface of the flexible laminate to a second surface of the flexible laminate.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laminate is free of defects consisting of streaking and enclosed air.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hot melt adhesive composition is in the form of a continuous layer having a coat weight no more than 10 g/m 2 .
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hot melt adhesive composition is in the form of a continuous layer having a coat weight from 3 g/m 2 to 5 g/m 2 .
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hot melt adhesive composition is in the form of a continuous layer having a coat weight less than 3 g/m 2 .
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hot melt adhesive composition further comprises at least one of wax and plasticizer.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the food comprises at least one of medicine, snack foods, confectionery, aqueous foods, moist foods, dry food stuffs, milk, coffee, tea, cheese, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fresh meats and fish.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laminate is in the form of a “form-fill-and-seal” package.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laminate is in the form of a tube prior to surrounding the food.
16 . A packaged food comprising:
a food; and
a flexible laminate surrounding the food, the flexible laminate comprising
a first substrate,
a non-reactive hot melt laminating adhesive, and
a second substrate laminated to the first substrate through the adhesive,
the flexible laminate being essentially free of migratable polyisocyanates and migratable aromatic amines.
17 . The packaged food of claim 16 , wherein the food comprises at least one of medicine, snack foods, confectionery, aqueous foods, moist foods, dry food stuffs, milk, coffee, tea, cheese, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fresh meats and fish.
18 . The packaged food of claim 16 , wherein the flexible laminate is heat sealed to itself.
19 . The packaged food of claim 16 , wherein the hot-melt adhesive composition comprises thermoplastic polymer and tackifying agent.
20 . The packaged food of claim 16 , wherein the first and second substrates are selected from the group consisting of polymer film, metallized polymer film, foil and combinations thereof.
21 . The packaged food of claim 16 , wherein the food is edible.
22 . The packaged food of claim 21 , wherein the food is selected from the group consisting of medicine, toys, snack foods, confectionery, aqueous foods, moist foods, dry foodstuffs, milk, coffee, tea, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, fresh meats, fish, and corresponding frozen items.
23 . The packaged food of claim 16 , wherein the laminate is in a form selected from the group consisting of a bag, pouch and a box.
24 . The packaged food of claim 16 , wherein the laminate is in the form of a “form-fill-and-seal” package.
25 . A packaged food comprising:
a package defining an opening;
a food disposed in the package; and
a flexible laminate extending across the opening of the package and sealing the opening, the flexible laminate being in a form selected from the group consisting of a capseal and a heat-seal lidding,
the flexible laminate comprising
a first substrate comprising a first surface,
a non-reactive hot melt laminating adhesive on the first surface of the first substrate, and
a second substrate laminated to the first substrate through the adhesive,
the flexible laminate being essentially free of migratable polyisocyanates and migratable aromatic amines.
26 . The packaged food of claim 25 , wherein the package is in the form of a beaker, bowl, dish or a combination thereof.