Overview of Pet Food Packaging Testing Items

With the rise in living standards, pet ownership and spending have surged. The global pet food market, valued at USD 87.08 billion in 2018, is projected to reach USD 113.2 billion by 2024. According to the "2018 China Pet Industry White Paper," pet spending is largely driven by commodity purchases, with dog products constituting 72% of this market. Of this, staple dog food makes up 36%, followed by dog supplies and snacks. As pet spending increases, so do concerns about the quality and safety of pet food.

Applicable Samples for Testing

Testing encompasses various pet food products including:

• Pet food
• Pet cans
• Pet snacks
• Pet food additives
• Pet chews
• Pet food packaging materials

Key Testing Items for Pet Food Packaging

Pet food products undergo several stages before reaching consumers, including transportation, storage, shelving, and usage. Packaging materials are essential for maintaining the quality and safety of pet food throughout these stages. Key testing items include:

1. Overall Sealing Performance

   Sealing performance ensures that packaging prevents the intrusion of external substances and leakage of contents. Problems such as insufficient sealing strength and defects in packaging can lead to exposure to oxygen or water vapor, causing food deterioration. The negative pressure method, based on "GB/T15171-1994 Flexible Packaging Sealing Performance Test Method," is commonly used to test this.

2. Tensile Strength and Elongation

   These measures assess the maximum stress and elongation a packaging material can withstand before breaking. Testing ensures that the packaging materials used have sufficient tensile strength to prevent damage.

3. Sealing Strength

   This refers to the strength of the seal in composite film bags. Unqualified sealing strength can lead to leaks in the heat-sealed areas, resulting in pet food spillage.

4. Tear Resistance

   Tear resistance gauges how well the packaging can withstand tearing forces. Adequate tear strength prevents packaging damage and ensures the package can be easily opened by users.

5. Impact Resistance

   Packaging must resist damage from external forces and falls during handling and transportation to prevent leaks and maintain product integrity.

6. Pressure Resistance

   Packaging should withstand external pressure and stacking during transport and storage to prevent damage.

By thoroughly testing these parameters, the safety and quality of pet food products are ensured throughout their journey from the factory to the consumer.