Active and intelligent packaging for milk and milk products

Abstract

[Excerpt] In the distant past, food was consumed at the place it was found. One day, most likely when someone noticed that drinking water was much easier when hands were arranged as a shell to carry the water, instead of drinking it directly in the river or lake, man invented the package in its elementary form. The function to contain was defined. Later, man must have realized that the use of naturally available resources such as gourds, leaves, or shells, made it possible to take goods home. With this step forward, the function to transport was incorporated. This moment is the starting point for package evolution. As time went by, this elementary concept was developed and containers made from wood, skin, bones, and organs of animals were built. The discovery of ores and other compounds led to the development of packages made of metals and ceramics. These packages had different shapes and were used to store foods, always with the aim of conserving them. The function to protect then became associated with the food package. [...]