Evaluation of Light-Shielding Effect of Milk Cartons Using a UV-VIS-NIR Spectrophotometer

Introduction

Foods that are on display in shops are exposed to various types of light, including ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light, all of which can pass through packaging materials and containers. Such exposure of these foods and beverages to light can cause protein oxidation, vitamin destruction, fading, and other adverse effects in the foods. Consequently, examination of the light-shielding effect (transmittance) of food containers is very important. Previously, transmittance in various types of PET bottles was measured in Application News No. A461. Those results indicated differences in transmittance among the bottles in the near-infrared and ultraviolet regions. Here, we examined the transmission characteristics of paper-based milk cartons using the UV-3600 ultraviolet- visible-near-infrared spectrophotometer. The results of measurements conducted on the 3 types of milk cartons indicated differences in transmittance depending on the carton sample. Further, differences in transmittance were also found within each of the respective samples, depending on the measurement site. This paper introduces those results.

October 23, 2013 GMT