Coloured wrapper gives yeast a longer life
yeast used in bakery processing plants could help managers ensure
the ingredient remains alive and no contamination ends up in their
products.
Because fresh yeast is a live product, giving off carbon dioxide and water during stocking and distribution, it needs packaging with a tailored permeability to both gases and moisture vapour.
Seal integrity is also important because of the demanding conditions of high humidity and low temperature required during transportation and storage of the yeast before use. In addition, the filmis required to provide a complete bacteriological barrier as yeast is highly susceptible to external contaminants.
Innovia Films says its blue cellophane film, LMSCi, has been manufactured with tailored coatings to the base film to produce the specific level of permeability, heat seal performance and barrierproperties needed for yeast.
A recent modification of the coating formulation and to the softeners in the base film have produced a stronger and more reliable heat seals and even less sensitivity to moisture during the storageof the yeast, the company stated.
LMSCi has a permeability to moisture of 600 g/m2/day. This is the optimum permeability for keeping the yeast moist without encouraging mould growth when combined with an inner kraft paper wrap, thecompany stated.
The film's extremely high gas barrier protects the activity of the yeast. The combination of permeability and barrier properties maximises the shelf life of the fresh yeast, the company claims.
The cellophane also provides a good strong seal without the need for excessive pressure or heat so there is no risk of burning the yeast at the packing stage, the company stated.
"It is important to retain the initial hygienic state of the yeast throughout distribution," Innovia stated.
Innovia says LMSCi, will also help bakers avoid product contamination. The company developed the blue colour so that should a scrap of film inadvertently get mixed into the final product it can beeasily identified and removed.
"Using coloured film in this type of application offers additional security benefits and helps companies to maintain strict quality assurance controls," stated Clare McKeown, Innovia'sfilms market manager.
Australia-headquarted Innovia has three manufacturing sites in Europe and one in the US.
