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Testing the Hermetic Seal on Milk Product Packages

Bureau of Foods, Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

ABSTRACT

Water vapor is a normal component of air in the headspace of a milk product container and if the container is not hermetically sealed, water vapor will pass through the point of leakage. Absence of the hermetic seal was detected by placing cartons of sterilized milk product in a glass jar (held at 24 C) and measuring relative humidity of the air inside the jar for 6 weeks.

Tests were with sterilized cream in half-pint foil-lined Pure Pak cartons and in nonfoil-lined Tetra Pak and Form Seal creamers. Relative humidity inside the jars containing the Pure Pak cartons increased from 50 to 88% in 5 weeks. Leakage from the Tetra Pak and Form Seal creamers occurred faster; relative humidity inside these jars increased from 50 to 88% in one week. The tests were repeated in a refrigerator at 5 C, and significant changes were recorded (75 to 90% relative humidity) during 6 weeks of exposure.

Tests with foil-lined Tetra Pak cartons (from Canada), Thimonnier foil pouches (from France), and metal cans of evaporated milk indicated no leakage during 6 weeks.