shelf life

Food Packaging Shelf Life

Food packaging has a number of uses – from guarding against contamination to sealing in freshness and increasing the shelf life of many food products. The shelf life of any given product ranges from several days to indefinitely, depending on the type of food and type of packaging used. It may not always be easy to determine the shelf life of a food product just by looking at its packaging, so we’ve put together a table explaining the different types of food packaging and their expected shelf lives.

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bagging

Bagging More Than Just Food

Bagging stations are fairly common in the food packaging industry. Everything from poultry to meat to breads to snacks come packaged in some kind of bag – making companies in the food processing and packing industry some of the biggest buyers of bagging stations.

But these stations aren’t limited to just the food processing industry. There are a number of uses for custom designed bagging stations in other industries as well.
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meat myths

Debunking Meat Myths

There are a lot of myths when it comes to meat – especially in the way consumers view the meat processing and packing industry. Hormone injections, health and safety inspection frequencies, the safety of eating processing meat, livestock affects on the environment, and the cost of meat are just a few areas where conjecture, fear, and scare-tactics have caused meat myths to arise.

It can often be difficult for the consumer to determine meat myths from truth, especially when said myths are highlighted in the news and on websites across the world. So how do you accurately debunk meat myths and learn the truth?

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wiu rocky wagon

Rocky’s New Wagon

Every mascot deserves their own pimped out wagon – and that’s just what we gave Western Illinois University’s mascot Rocky!

WIU approached our team with a pretty custom project: design and build Rocky a mobile dog house that could be used in parades and other big events. It had to provide their mascot with all the creature comforts while being durable enough to last for years. Not only is the house sturdy, it comes complete with a built in air conditioning unit and a dog house must: a personal fire hydrant.

Check out Rocky’s new digs and let us know what you think!

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meat cutting sanitation

Meat Cutting Sanitation Tips

Proper cleaning is important in your meat cutting sanitation efforts. Not only are there numerous federal, state, and industry regulations on proper sanitation which need to be followed, but regular cleaning of equipment also prolongs the life of your equipment and reduces product contamination.

According to Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities, a seven-step process is commonly used in proper meat cutting sanitation facilities, including1:

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saw safety

Industrial Saw Safety Rules

Incorporating industrial saws into your processing operation may be necessary, but poses a safety threat to your employees. Improper setup and usage of saws can result in the loss of body parts and even death of an employee. However, properly installing your saw and following the saw safety rules mentioned below will not only protect your employees, but make your saw safe for everyone around.

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prevent ergonomic injuries

Prevent Ergonomic Injuries

A good number of injuries incurred in a food processing plant are the result of poor ergonomics. Awkward postures, heavy lifting, repetitive movements, hard concrete flooring, overstretching due to equipment being too tall or too short – all are factors that play into employee injuries.

The good news is that injuries resulting from poor ergonomics are preventable. A small investment in employee training and ergonomic equipment can not only prevent employee injuries, but save you a lot of money in the process.

We’ve put together a simple chart to help you discover the best ways to prevent the most common ergonomic injuries:

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