ASTM F1640-03

Standard Guide for Packaging Materials for Foods to Be Irradiated

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The judicious selection of a packaging material is part of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for the irradiation of prepackaged foods. This guide recognizes the need to evaluate the impact of packaging materials on the safety and quality of foods irradiated to control the proliferation of food borne pathogens, as well as their impact on foods irradiated for other purposes, such as prevention of re-infestation, delay of ripening, or shelf life extension.
As part of the evaluation, the packaging selection process should consider the effects of irradiation on the chemical and physical properties of the packaging material.
Packaging is not considered to be a food preservation technique for overcoming any deficiencies attributable to inadequate GMPs during preparation, storage, or treatment of foods to be irradiated. The quality of the irradiated food will depend heavily on its initial quality, control of the irradiation process, storage temperature and handling of the food after irradiation.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide outlines parameters that should be considered when selecting food-contact packaging materials intended for use during the irradiation of prepackaged foods.  
1.2 This guide highlights the role of packaging in conjunction with irradiation in controlling microbial and chemical spoilage processes.  
1.3 This guide does not address all regulatory issues associated with packaging materials for foods to be irradiated. It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to determine the pertinent regulatory issues in each country where irradiated foods are to be produced or distributed.  
1.4 This guide does not address all of the food safety issues associated with the synergistic effects of irradiation and packaging as food preservation techniques on the extension of shelf life. It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to conduct appropriate risk analyses to determine the critical food safety issues.  
1.5 This guide does not address all the effects of irradiation and packaging on food quality and shelf life. It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to conduct appropriate product assessment tests to determine the compatibility between the packaging application and irradiation relative to changes in sensory attributes and shelf life.  
1.6 This guide does not address the use of irradiation as a processing aid for the manufacture or sterilization of food packaging materials.  
1.7  This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2003
• ICS: 55.040 - Packaging materials and accessories
• ICS: 67.250 - Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs
• Technical Committee: E61 - Radiation Processing
• Drafting Committee: E61.05 - Food Irradiation

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1640-95(2001) - Standard Guide for Packaging Materials for Foods to Be Irradiated
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM F1640-09 - Standard Guide for Packaging Materials for Foods to Be Irradiated
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F1736-21 - Standard Guide for Irradiation of Finfish and Aquatic Invertebrates Used as Food to Control Pathogens and Spoilage Microorganisms
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1355-19 - Standard Guide for Irradiation of Fresh Agricultural Produce as a Phytosanitary Treatment
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1885-18 - Standard Guide for Irradiation of Dried Spices, Herbs, and Vegetable Seasonings to Control Pathogens and Other Microorganisms
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1356-22 - Standard Guide for Irradiation of Fresh, Frozen or Processed Meat and Poultry to Control Pathogens and Other Microorganisms
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation:F1640–03
Standard Guide for
Selection and Use of Packaging Materials for Foods to Be
1
Irradiated
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1640; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This guide provides information on the selection and use of packaging materials intended to hold
food during irradiation with ionizing energy (gamma-rays, X-rays, accelerated electrons). In general,
irradiation is used to reduce the incidence of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms and parasites
infoods,controlsproutingoftubersandbulbs,anddisinfestcommodities(seeGuidesF 1355,F 1356,
F 1736, and F 1885). Packaging materials serve to protect the product from recontamination after
irradiation and may be used to complement other preservation techniques to extend shelf life of the
irradiated food.
1. Scope 1.4 This guide does not address the use of irradiation as a
processing aid for the production or sterilization of food
1.1 This guide provides a format to assist producers and
packaging materials.
users of food packaging materials to in selecting materials that
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
have the desirable characteristics for their intended use and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
comply with applicable standards or government authoriza-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tions. It outlines parameters that should be considered when
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
selecting food-contact packaging materials intended for use
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
during irradiation of prepackaged foods and it examines the
criteria for fitness for their use.
2
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 This guide identifies known regulations and regulatory
2.1 ASTM Standards:
frameworks worldwide pertaining to packaging materials for
D 3985 TestMethodforOxygenGasTransmissionThrough
holding foods during irradiation; but it does not address all
Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Coulometric Sensor
regulatory issues associated with the selection and use of
E 170 Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements
packaging materials for foods to be irradiated. It is the
and Dosimetry
responsibility of the user of this guide to determine the
E 460 Practice for Determining Effect of Packaging on
pertinent regulatory issues in each country where foods are to
Food and Beverage Products During Storage
be irradiated and where irradiated foods are distributed.
E 462 Test Method for Odor and Taste Transfer from
1.3 This guide does not address all of the food safety issues
Packaging Film
associated with the synergistic effects of irradiation and pack-
F 1355 Guide for Irradiation of Fresh Fruits for Disinfesta-
aging as food preservation techniques on the extension of shelf
tion as a Quarantine Treatment
life or food quality. It is the responsibility of the user of this
F 1356 Guide for the Irradiation of Fresh and Frozen Red
guidetodeterminethecriticalfoodsafetyissuesandtoconduct
Meats and Poultry (to Control Pathogens)
appropriate product assessment tests to determine the compat-
F 1736 Guide for Irradiation of Finfish and Shellfish to
ibility between the packaging application and irradiation rela-
Control Pathogens and Spoilage Microorganisms
tive to changes in sensory attributes and shelf life.
F 1885 Guide for Irradiation of Dried Spices, Herbs, and
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear
2
Technology and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
E10.01 on Radiation Processing: Dosimetry and Applications. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as F 1640 – 95 (2001). the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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F1640–03
Vegetable Seasonings to Control Pathogens and Other 5. Regulatory Considerations
Microorganisms
5.1 Compliance with regulatory requirements within each
country where an irradiated food is to be sold should be
3. Terminology
considered when selecting an appropriate packaging material
3.1 Definitions:
to hold food during its irradiatio
...