May 26, 2008
Posted by admin on Food And Recipes

Perfect Food Packaging

This article about Food Packaging, hopes to give you the knowledge you need, to feel that you have a firm grasp on the subject.

My first involvement with food packaging was on a cottage industry level. You see, I used to package and sell gift baskets to make a little bit of extra cash at the craft market. We would make some pretty extravagant food packages. After all, gift baskets are as much about the packaging as the product. You don’t want simplistic, straightforward food packaging. Elegance is not one of your goals. What you want is something that is sparky, shiny, and cheerful. A gift basket, after all, should tell someone that you love them. It should demonstrate your affection through tinsel and flashy colors.

Working for a company that sells commercial packaging supplies is a much different experience, needless to say. It is amazing how many different possible designs that are in food packaging. I have seen every single conceivable form of food package. Nowadays, as consumers get more jaded, the packaging of food seem to get more and more elaborate. There are candies, for example, that consist of almost nothing beside the packaging. They will come with molded plastic cell phone cases with a few candies inside, or perhaps a little race cars. Packaging foods especially junk foods is often more about the package than the food.

If you think you have learned a lot about this fascinating topic so far remember, we are only halfway through!

On the other hand, some food packages has gotten much more simplistic and straightforward. With environmental consciousness becoming popular, food packaging is definitely trying to keep up with the movement. A lot of the time, people buying more expensive health foods actually go for a simpler, cheaper to manufacture food wrapping. This is good for the environment, but it is also good for the company selling the foods. After all, they get to make more money on food that costs them less to package and send out. It seems like everyone wins.

What really intrigues me is the products where the food packaging never changes very much. Milk and orange juice, for example, have been the same forever and continued to be the same. Milk comes in either the cardboard cartons or the plastic half gallon jugs. Orange juice comes in similar food packaging. For some reason, people just trust the packages of certain staples. Take eggs for example. Do you think cartons will ever go away? I seriously doubt it! I think it is because people don’t really want innovation with their dietary staples. They want basic foods that have a basic look that never changes. That is what inspires consumer confidence.

Share the information that you have learned about Food Packaging, with your friends and family. They will be impressed by your knowledge and happy to learn something new too.

Tags: food package, food packages, food packaging, orange juice, packaging foods, packaging supplies

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May 14, 2008
Posted by admin on Cake And Cookies

Callebaut Chocolate Is The Best

Belgian chocolates have a reputation around the world for excellent quality. The Callebaut Chocolate Company has been a major part of the industry, supplying chocolate makers and the consumer. They started production of chocolate bars in 1911 and introduced their famous confectionary coating line in 1925. Today, they have 35 factories employing 9,500 people and are the second largest company of its kind in the world.

The company has a variety of products available, the most popular being cocoa powder and baking chocolate to the public and to trade. Callebaut chocolate caters for lovers of dark, milk and white chocolate. In these health conscious times, the company addressed concerns in 2005 and introduced Acticoa, a product said to lower cholesterol levels. There is also a range of no added sugar chocolate.

The popular cooking show on PBS, America’s Test Kitchen has given awards for the company’s products. In response to the interest in organic products, organic Callebaut chocolate is available and organic Fair Trade chocolate is also for sale. The company developed Origine, a type of chocolate that is widely used in pralines, chocolate bars, pastries and desserts. They also supply powder for chocolate mousse and chocolate for nut pastes and hazelnut creams. Dark and white chocolate products are also used in bread, bread rolls, cakes, croissants and pastry bases. They take different shapes in drops, sticks or chunks.

Flavored chocolate is very popular and the Callebaut chocolate range includes white and milk chocolate with caramel, cappuccino, fruit or honey flavorings. Dark and milk chocolate is also used for chocolate fountains, the latest craze at dinner parties and events. The line of coatings includes soft glazes for cakes and biscuits and hard coatings for other sorts of confectionary. White or colored icing is sold for home made cakes and there is also piping bag and cornet sets for decorating. The drinks industry has benefited from modern café culture and the demand for new flavorings in coffee etc. Callebaut developed Choc-o-Late, a chocolate drink that can be drunk hot or cold and mixes with coffee, milk, cream or orange juice.

The company web site has an inspiring collection of recipes including ones for bread, pastries, biscuits and brioche. Books are also available with instructions on how to make chocolate and making decorations for confectionary. There are three languages in print; English, Dutch and French. Callebaut can lead to a whole new hobby as well as a quick snack at coffee break.

Tags: baking chocolate, callebaut chocolate, chocolate bars, chocolate mousse, chocolate products, home made cakes, milk chocolate, orange juice, production of chocolate, recipes, white chocolate

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