Seafood specialties in retorted, IML tubs
Appel Feinkost GmbH & Co. KG, of Cuxhaven, Germany, produces the Appel Gourmet Seafood line in six non-refrigerated salad and snack varieties. In July 2011, the company began marketing this new line of products in PermaSafe® retortable tubs supplied by the plastics division of the Weidenhammer Packaging Group.
Appel Feinkost GmbH & Co. KG, of Cuxhaven, Germany, produces the Appel Gourmet Seafood line in six non-refrigerated salad and snack varieties. In July 2011, the company began marketing this new line of products in PermaSafe® retortable tubs supplied by the plastics division of the Weidenhammer Packaging Group. The 200-g packages also incorporate embossed in-mold labeling (IML), an easy-open, peel-off membrane seal, and an injection-molded, recloseable, IML lid.
The fish and other chunk and particulate components are filled into the trays by hand. Then the sauce is filled automatically and the laminated lidding material is applied. Appel then cooks the packaged Gourmet Seafood products in retort kettles at temperatures in the range of 121º C (250º F).
The containers, membrane seals, and in-mold labels withstand the cooking process without damage. After cooking, the recloseable lids are automatically applied and secured with adhesive tape bearing the best-used-before date. Non-refrigerated shelf life is twelve months.
The Appel application is the second successful launch of the PermaSafe packaging technology. The first commercial application (without IML) was for the packaging of Heideverfuhrung specialty sausage produced by Muller’s Hausmacher Wurst, Ebstorf, Germany, introduced in late 2009.
