RPCs

Environmental Perspective on a New Federal Produce Packaging Study

Leave a Comment / Packaging, Paper Packaging, Plastics, RPCs / By

A new Canadian federal government study examining the cost implications of reducing plastic packaging for fresh produce sold in Canada provides insight into how the produce sector approaches packaging decisions. While the study focuses on economic and functional considerations, reviewing its findings through an environmental lens raises questions about how sustainable packaging decisions are made […]

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Salmonella survives plastic crate washing test, transfers to fresh cucumber

Corrugated Boxes, Industry News, Life Cycle Analysis, Recycled Content, RPCs / By

A scientific study just published in the international peer-review journal, Food Control, poses some serious questions about the sanitation of the re-usable plastic crates (RPCs) sometimes used to distribute fresh produce to retailers. The study shows how Salmonella can become established on RPCs and survive the typical sanitation cycles that are applied to decontaminate the

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Retailers can’t duck food safety issues when pushing growers to re-use crates

2 Comments / Recyclable, RPCs / By

A third, more extensive testing of plastic crates used to ship fresh produce throughout Canada shows some handling improvements but still found sanitary issues such as high total aerobic and yeast and mould counts, and the presence of E. coli. Studies demonstrating inconsistent washing practices and biofilms surviving common industry cleaning methods had earlier led

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