For those who are presenting food items to the public or to their own family, there are some things that you can do to make sure that the food item is fresh, safe and attractive for everyone.  Follow these tips the next time you have to put out a selection of your special goodies.

1.    The first thing that you should consider is the convenience of the packaging.  Even when you are putting out food for your family, if the packaging makes it difficult to get at the item it will most likely be ignored by all of your guests.  This is even more important when you are selling your food items. You should not put any restraints on the items that will cause your customer difficulty.

2.    If you have perishable items on your table and you plan to keep them out for more than an hour, make sure that you have ice to keep the items cold.  This can be an attractive addition to your table and it will make sure that the food does not become bacteria laden from sitting at room temperature.

3.     For snack items on your table, particularly for sales, include a zip seal on the bags.  People love to be able to reseal their packaging when they are snacking.  It allows them to keep the item fresh if they do not finish the product. 

4.    Look for colorful choices in the packaging and wraps that you use on your table.  You don’t have to stick with the traditional clear plastic for your goodies.  Make them stand out from the crowd.

5.    Consider keeping sandwiches that are on your table in crush proof plastic containers.  This will let you snap a lid on them when the party is over and pop them right in the fridge.  Remember that if there are perishables in the sandwiches to keep them cold.

These are just some of the things that you can do to make your table look great and keep the food safe and fresh.  The packaging that you use can be a part of your decorating scheme while at the same time working double duty to keep the food fresh. 

Look online for some bargains on the packaging items that will add to your table.  You can find some great innovations in the packaging of food if you look on the Internet.  Just remember to shop around and find the products that will keep the air and bacteria from your food.  Visit a number of sites before you settle on one to make sure that you find the best price on these items. 

Keeping your food safe should be the biggest priority when you are laying food out for guests or customers.  Keep all of the utensils that are used clean and make sure that anyone who is handling the food washes their hands thoroughly.  Food that has been exposed to bacteria or left out for a period of time without refrigeration can cause illness.  Keeping your food fresh and safe will ensure that everyone enjoys the party without any food related illness. 

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I have had many people emailing me and asking “you know a lot about packaging, do you design and manufacture you own food packaging?”

The short answer to this is no.

The long answer is that I get my packagiang designed and am actively invloved in the design process.

For the manufacturing part however, I got in contact with the guys down at BSB Packaging in Victoria a while ago. Originally I was in a bind because my regular food packaging suppliers were too busy and couldn’t get my order to me in time, so after a bit of ringing around I called BSB Packagaing.

The staff were upbeat and knowledgable (something definetly lacking in many manufacturers) and worked to fit me in on a tight timeframe.

I went back to them again, and again they performed well, even when I asked them highly technical questions.  I eventually used them full time and have never looked back

There - my secret is revealed, now you all know where to get your food packaging