SELECTION OF PROTOTYPE PACKAGING SUITABLE FOR HEALTHY CHINESE FOOD DELIVERY

Abstract

This research aims to select the appropriate packaging for healthy Chinese food delivery, i.e. environmentally friendly, maintain food temperature well, maintain food quality until it reaches the consumer, and protect the food inside in good condition without damage during transportation. In this research, 3 types of packaging were selected: paper packaging, thin economical plastic packaging, and thick and beautiful plastic packaging to pack 15 healthy Chinese food menus. The types of healthy food are divided into 4 categories: 1) Salad, fried, stir-fried, and baked, 2) Large pieces (whole), 3) Soup, curry, and stew, and 4) Dipping sauce. From the experiment of packing food in all 3 types of packaging, measuring the temperature for 3 hours, it was found that the paper packaging had a core temperature of 57-60 degrees Celsius, while the economical thin plastic packaging and the thick and beautiful plastic packaging had a core temperature of 60-66 degrees Celsius. The core temperature of the food indicates the safety of cooked food, which is a safe range for the growth of microorganisms in food during transportation. From the analysis of plastic food containers according to the Ministry of Public Health Announcement No. 295 (2005) and the number of microorganisms according to the Microbiological Quality Criteria for Food and Food Contact Containers, No. 3 (2017), it was found that all 3 types of packaging are safe to use for packing Chinese table food for delivery.