Q & A: Shelf Stable Package
Do your aseptically packaged products require refrigeration?
No, they are shelf stable for up to a year. You'll find a "best before" date clearly stamped on all of our products. Once the package is opened, it requires refrigeration. At that point, the product will stay fresh for 7-10 days refrigerated.
What are the benefits of shelf stable cartons (aseptic packaging) to the consumer?
Since they were introduced in the early 1980s, shelf stable carton packages have become very popular in the U.S., especially in households with children. The special aseptic process yields a shelf-stable product, which can be kept in a cupboard for extended periods of time without need for preservatives or refrigeration. In describing their preference, American consumers often point to the safety, nutrition, ease of handling, and the environmental profile of the package. Others prefer the shelf stable carton because it is shatter-proof and tamper-evident.
What are the environmental attributes of shelf stable cartons (aseptic packaging)?
There are several good reasons why shelf stable cartons are considered by packaging experts to be one of the most sustainable food packaging on the market today:
Renew. Tetra Pak cartons are all about the future. Mainly made from a natural resource that grows back. The fiber in Tetra Pak carton packages comes from responsibly sourced, well-managed forests. None of the wood in Tetra Pak packages comes from old growth wood, rainforests, illegally harvested wood or high conservation forests. Tetra Pak works with and rates its paperboard suppliers annually on their forestry practices and mill environmental performance by conducting an independent audit.
Reduce. Cartons are lightweight and use less resources than most traditional packaging. In fact, items package in cartons are made of only 4-7% packaging on average. A typical single-serve aseptic package provides a product-to-packaging ratio that is 96 percent beverage to only 4 percent packaging by weight. As a result, Tetra Pak cartons have among the lowest carbon footprint. Energy efficiency. Cartons are lightweight and their ability to preserve beverages without refrigeration or preservatives are key factors in saving energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycle. Shelf stable cartons along with milk cartons are recycled through a process called hydrapulping. The high-quality fiber is used in the production of paper products such as tissue and paper towels. In some cases the plastic/foil residual is being recycled into high-end plastic lumber products. 60 million US residents in 26 states in the US already have the ability to recycle cartons curbside and the numbers keep growing. To find out more, go to www.recyclecartons.com
What is aseptic packaging?
Shelf stable (aseptic packaging) is a beverage and liquid food system that allows products once considered perishable to be distributed and stored without refrigeration for periods of up to 1 year or more. The packaging achieves the room-temperature shelf stability by filling a sterilized package with a sterile food product within the confines of a hygienic environment. Many other package types use preservatives or the product must be refrigerated to achieve a long shelf life. Aseptically processed liquid foods and beverages are sterilized outside the package using an ultra-high temperature process that rapidly heats, then cools, the product before filling. This flash-heating-and-cooling aseptic process substantially reduces nutrient loss associated with other thermal processes. As a result, aseptically packaged products retain more nutritional value, and exhibit more natural texture, color, and taste and don't require added preservatives.
Can you freeze your products?
We do not recommend freezing our non-dairy beverages because there may be settling or separation of product once it is thawed. If you need to freeze broth, please transfer the liquid to a freezer/microwave safe container.