Influence of Light/Test Media

One of the important barrier properties of packaging systems is their shielding effect against light influence. Normally it is very time-consuming to measure the light influence on packaged food. So, test media are developed which simulate food systems and indicate the influence of light. The need of such media arise from questions about packaging minimization, which can lead to an increased light permeability.

In relation to conventional storage tests with packaged food, the test media contain increased concentrations of light-susceptible substrates and sensitisers and therefore are highly reactive within short times. This enables simple and rapid analytical tests. The results with test media are correlated to the properties of food or their usual exposure times in relation to light. The project was started with the development of two testing media, which can simulate milk- or yeast-containing food and fatty products.