Alternative Packaging Material for Edible Oils

Bag in Box

• The development of flexible polyethylene suitable for holding oils means that oil can be stored and transported in bags. The bags are often placed inside a sturdy cardboard box for further protection and to make handling and pouring easier. This container is suitable for up to five gallons at a time; if it's any larger, handling at the kitchen level becomes difficult.

PET

• Polyethylene Therephalate (PET), a clear, recyclable plastic suitable for holding oils, is fast taking over the plastic bottling market. Oils intended for household use are often packaged in this to allow the consumer to see what they are buying. Because it can readily be recycled, it is a good alternative choice to PVC.

Glass

• Using glass for packaging edible oils is not as common as plastic due to the cost. On a home production level it is the norm, for the beauty of the oil is fully displayed and the glass container may be re-used indefinitely. In stores, high-end oils and specialty products are sometimes packaged this way.

Migration

• Part of the reason alternative packaging for edible oils is so slow to develop is the problem of migration of molecules from the plastic into the oil. Very few plastics are suitable for holding oil in the first place, and fewer still pass rigid FDA standards for migration. PET has one of the lowest levels of migration, allowing fewer particles to release than the analytical standards allow. Heating oils inside plastic containers accelerates the migration process, which is something to keep in mind when microwaving food.