Flavor Transfer Problems Force The Food And Beverage Industry To Reconsider Seal Materials

One
of the most important things to consider in the food and beverage industry is
sterilization. Numerous laws and regulations exist to ensure the consumer’s
safety. While the equipment used for bottling, canning, baking, and the like
may be fully sterile according to the rules, the problem of flavor transfer can
still exist.

If
the wrong materials are used for the components, such as rubber flat washers,
the flavor of one product may then get transferred to the next.

Even
vigorously cleaning the equipment between the batches won’t help remove the
odors and flavors if the wrong materials are employed and substances have
become absorbed into the components.

The
flavor is transferred from food or beverage to the seal and then goes into the
next batch. In the best case, the flavor stays unchanged. In the worst case, it
acquires an unpleasant rubbery taste. This can wreak disaster for any product
manufacturer, even while keeping the product 100{8267d64a106f8dc6f26ea1c4ef8b0a6d396ccf853f1c860e765a25170ef08209} safe according to the safety
regulations.

With
the right choice of sealing materials, this problem either can be kept to a
minimum or avoided altogether. 

Problems
For The Beverage Industry

The
flavor transfer problem is especially acute for the beverage industry. The
number of drinks on the market is overwhelming. From fruit juices to soft
drinks, one factory can go through thousands of flavors every day. 

A
quick change from one product to the next optimizes the work process and keeps
the expenses to a minimum. However, speed and efficiency go out the door when a
perfect flavor can’t be guaranteed. The right approach to the sealing portions
of the equipment—that might retain traces of the previous batch—can help the
manufacturer forget about flavor failures. 

Different
flavorings feature a variety of aromatic components, the effect of which on
rubber washers, gaskets, seals, shims, etc. hasn’t been studied extensively.
Depending on the chemical characteristics of the above-mentioned substances and
their mixture, the resistance of the elastomer, as well as its absorption/release
rates, can be measured. 

When
the right measurements are made, it’s possible to create tests that can help
the manufacturers create the flavor-safe seals. Flat washers
in a wide range of sizes and materials, like those
from Superior Washer, can be used for some food and beverage processing
applications to reliably ensure the integrity of each batch. This depends not
only on the correct measurements of the components but the materials as well.
Elastomers, like nylon
and silicone, are some of the best options for such applications. 

New
Things To Consider When Choosing Elastomers 

In
the food and beverage processing industry, the majority of the attention goes
to sterility and ability to withstand corrosive cleaning products, while
providing high integrity and longevity. 

Today,
the industry players also need to pay attention to an elastomer’s ability to
avoid flavor absorption and transfer to the following product batch. 

One
of the best possible materials, which can be suitable for the food and beverage
industry seals is fluoroprene (2-fluoro-1,3-butadiene). Freudenberg Process
Seals created a new material, Fluoroprene
XP, which has shown excellent results for flavor absorption and
transfer resistance. 

Conclusion

With
so many things to consider when optimizing the food and beverage plant
operation, choosing the right seal may be one of the last things checked.
Meanwhile, the flavor problems elastomer seals pose can lead to disastrous
consequences. Fluoroprene seals can help avoid the unnecessary flavor transfer
from one batch to another.