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The Center for Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging Research explores
new opportunities in packaging of food and pharmaceutical products.
In the Center, the objective is to build a scientific base for making
packaging decisions. Therefore, the research is medium to long term.
Research Activities Include
Product/package compatibility
Product quality and safety
Analytical methods development
Application of materials science to food
and pharmaceutical packaging
Estimation of product shelf life by mathematical
modeling
Human factors in consumer use of packages
Solid waste management
Packaging line performance
Research Faculty
The Center's interdisciplinary research draws on the diverse backgrounds
of the faculties of the School of Packaging and the departments
of Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, Biomechanics, Materials
Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Human Medicine
and Statistics, among others.
Research Facilities
Ten laboratories in the school and other departments are used
for research. The School's Mass Transport Laboratory is uniquely
equipped for research in permeability of packages, shelf life of
packaged products and product/package compatibility. Our researchers
use specialized analysis instrumentation such as mass spectrometry,
nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy and spectroscopy,
and differential scanning calorimetry.
Benefits to Participating Companies
Members have access to a pool of potential employees trained in
packaging research techniques.
Member companies help prioritize research projects; they also advise
the Center's directors on budget and management matters.
Members have priority on distribution of all research results.
Member companies have access to highly specialized expertise, facilities
and instrumentation in the School and in cooperating departments.
Multiple sponsorship maximizes limited research resources; individual
resources are leveraged by the total funding. Companies who use
the broad knowledge developed can increase their competitive advantage
in specific proprietary product/package systems.
Operating Environment
Representatives from member companies prioritize research projects
and advise the Center's directors on matters related to budget and
management. Meetings are held twice a year, when the research staff
makes oral and written presentations. Sponsors' representatives
offer constructive criticism to the research staff. Every project
has a closing date after a year of operation. Extensions must be
approved by the Center sponsors and directors. Each project is designed
to be a complete study in its own right, even though it may be an
integral part of a more general research program.
Financial Participation
Member companies contribute $9,000.00 per year to support the work
of the Center. Membership money supports the research projects selected
by the members and the directors.
Invitation to Membership
Your company is invited to join. Contact the director and ask for
an invitation to membership. We will send current information about
the Center's activities along with an invoice for the first year's
membership.
For more information
Dr. Susan Selke
School of Packaging
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1223
517 353-4891
Fax: 517 353-8999
e-mail: sselke@msu.edu
Joint Membership
Companies can take advantage of the opportunities in both the Center
for Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging Research and the Consortium
for Distribution Packaging Research at a reduced rate. The joint
membership fee is $14,500.00 per year; individual memberships would
total $17,500.00. To obtain an invitation for joint membership, contact Susan Selke: (517) 353-4891
Current Research Topics
Product/Package Compatibility |
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- Permeation of organic vapor mixtures through plastics
- Solubility of organic volatiles in plastics
- Migration of contaminants from post consumer recycled plastics
Product Quality and Safety |
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- Detection of pathogens in packaged products using the electronic
nose
- Modeling of contaminant transfer from recycled HDPE
- Role of packaging in controlling light induced oxidation in
packaged products
Analytical Methods Development |
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- Development of an electronic nose method to detect off flavor
contaminants in packaged products
- Correlation between analytical and sensory analyses based on
electronic olfactory sensing (electronic nose)
- Development of a test protocol for evaluating the ability of
functional barriers to prevent migration of contaminants from
post consumer recycled plastics
- Development of instrumentation and methods for measurement
of label legibility
- Gravimetric and isostatic measurement of solubility of organic
volatiles in plastics
Application of Materials Science to Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging |
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- Effect of reaction processing conditions on the physical, morphological
and barrier properties of PET/PEN blends
- Development of edible films possessing antimicrobial properties
- Milk and wheat protein based edible films
- Vitamin E impregnation of packaging materials
- Physical and barrier properties of metallocene polyoelfins
- Effect of high pressure processing of plastic-packaged foods
on the mass transfer and mechanical characteristics of the package
- Lipid oxidation in products packaged in antioxidant impregnated
laminated film structures
Estimation of Product Shelf-life by Mathematical Modeling |
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- Shelf-life modeling of moisture sensitive products
- Shelf-life modeling of oxygen sensitive juice products
Human Factors in Consumer Use of Packages |
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- Effect of color contrast on legibility of package labels
- Effect of type size and font on legibility of package labels
- How to specify label legibility
- Modeling of contaminant transfer from recycled HDPE
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