
Shrink wrap food safe films and bags are designed to keep your food fresh for a longer period. They are made from BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) or CPP (Cyclo Olefin Polymer) materials that are non-toxic and safe for food contact.
These films and bags are also impermeable to air, moisture, and light, which helps to prevent spoilage and contamination. They are a popular choice for food storage because they are easy to use and can be applied quickly.
Some shrink wrap food safe films and bags are specifically designed for use in the microwave or freezer. These products are made with special materials that can withstand high temperatures and prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms.
Properly stored food wrapped in shrink wrap films or bags can last for several days or even weeks.
Recommended read: What Is Glad Wrap Made of
Choosing the Right Film
Picking the right film for your food packaging needs is crucial, and it's great that you're taking the time to research. There are various types of food-grade heat shrink films available, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other materials.
These films can be selected based on different packaging needs, so consider what's required for your specific application. For example, if direct contact with food is required, then polyolefin is the preferred choice, as it's non-toxic and odorless.
The cost-effectiveness of polyolefin shrink films is also a significant advantage, with prices typically ranging from $100 to $300 per roll. This makes them a very cost-effective option for food packaging.
For another approach, see: Packaging Stretch Wrap
Best Film to Use In
When packaging food, it's essential to choose a film that's safe for direct contact. Polyolefin is the preferred choice for this purpose.
Polyolefin is a type of film that's suitable for food packaging. It's a good option for applications where food will come into direct contact with the film.
Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are other types of food-grade heat shrink films available. However, polyolefin is the preferred choice for direct food contact.
Polyolefin can be selected based on different packaging needs, making it a versatile option.
Expand your knowledge: Shrink Film Machine
Applications of Wrap

Choosing the right film for your packaging needs is crucial, and understanding its applications is key to making an informed decision. Food grade shrink wrap is a popular choice for various industries, including the food industry.
Meat and poultry packaging is one area where food grade shrink wrap excels, enhancing freshness and extending shelf life while maintaining product quality. This is especially important for perishable items like meat and poultry.
Fresh produce packaging is another key application, protecting fruits and vegetables from external elements and allowing for better presentation and longer shelf life. This is a game-changer for farmers' markets and grocery stores alike.
Baked goods packaging is also a significant use case, keeping the aroma and freshness intact for bread, pastries, and cakes. This is essential for bakeries that want to showcase their high-quality products.
Deli and cheese packaging is yet another area where food grade shrink wrap shines, providing hygiene and visibility, ensuring that deli meats and cheeses remain appetizing and safe for consumption.
Here are some key applications of food grade shrink wrap:
- Meat and Poultry Packaging
- Fresh Produce Packaging
- Baked Goods Packaging
- Deli and Cheese Packaging
Introduction and Safety
Many people are not familiar with food safe packaging, but can we trust the use of heat shrink film in food packaging?
Shrink film is commonly used to package food items like fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, baked goods, and pizzas in supermarkets.
The most suitable shrink packaging for food safety is actually shrink film made of food-grade polyolefin material.
This type of material possesses excellent food safety properties and does not contaminate or have harmful effects on food.
Food grade shrink wrap is an essential packaging solution designed specifically for the food industry, providing an effective barrier against moisture, bacteria, and contaminants.
Food grade shrink film is a specially designed material used for food packaging, typically made of food-grade polyolefin, ensuring that no harmful substances are released when in contact with food.
It's great to know that polyolefin shrink film does not produce toxic substances during the shrinking process, which is a big plus compared to polyethylene.
This means that food grade shrink film can be in direct contact with food, giving consumers peace of mind when it comes to food safety.
Expand your knowledge: Shrink Film Wrap
Safety and Packaging

When choosing shrink packaging for food safety, it's essential to consider the material used. Shrink film made of food-grade polyolefin material is the most suitable option.
This type of material possesses excellent food safety properties and doesn't contaminate or have harmful effects on food.
Film Characteristics
When choosing a film for shrink wrapping food safely, consider the type of plastic used.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE) are common materials, but PVC is not recommended due to its potential for leaching chemicals into food.
A good shrink film should have a high clarity and gloss finish, making it easy to see the contents of the package.
This is especially important for food that's difficult to see, like liquids or powders.
The thickness of the film is also crucial, with 20-30 microns being a good starting point for most applications.
This thickness provides a good balance between durability and cost.
Some shrink films are specifically designed for food contact, with certifications like FDA compliance or EU food contact regulations.
If this caught your attention, see: Stretch Film vs Shrink Wrap
These films are made with safe and non-toxic materials to ensure they won't contaminate the food.
A good shrink film should also have a low shrinkage rate, which ensures it fits snugly over the contents and doesn't leave any gaps.
This is especially important for food that's sensitive to moisture or oxygen.
Film Grades and Types
Food-grade shrink wrap comes in various types, each with its own unique characteristics. Polyolefin Shrink Wrap is known for its superior clarity and resistance to punctures, making it a popular choice for high-quality packaging.
Polyolefin is safe for direct food contact and is often used in the food industry. PVC Shrink Wrap, on the other hand, is an economical choice but is generally not suitable for microwaving. LDPE Shrink Wrap is primarily used for bundling products and provides a basic moisture barrier.
Here are some common types of food-grade shrink wrap:
- Polyolefin Shrink Wrap: Safe for direct food contact and known for its superior clarity and resistance to punctures.
- PVC Shrink Wrap: Economical choice but not suitable for microwaving.
- LDPE Shrink Wrap: Used for bundling products and provides a basic moisture barrier.
- Biodegradable Shrink Wrap: A sustainable option for environmentally conscious businesses.
Types of Heat Films
There are several types of heat films to choose from. Polyethylene (PE) is one option.

Polypropylene (PP) is another type of heat film available. It's worth noting that the choice of film depends on the specific packaging needs.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is also a type of heat film. If direct contact with food is required, then polyolefin is the preferred choice, which is a type of polyolefin film.
These types of heat films can be selected based on their properties and the intended use.
Introduction to Grade
Food grade shrink wrap is an essential packaging solution designed specifically for the food industry. It provides an effective barrier against moisture, bacteria, and contaminants.
This versatile material has gained widespread popularity among food manufacturers, processors, and retailers due to its numerous advantages in preserving food quality and extending shelf life.
Food grade shrink wrap ensures that food products remain fresh and secure during storage and transportation.
Types of Grade
Polyolefin is a top-notch option for food packaging, offering superior clarity and resistance to punctures, making it safe for direct food contact.

Its clarity is unmatched, allowing consumers to see the product inside, which can be a major selling point.
Polyolefin is often used in high-quality packaging, giving businesses a professional edge.
PVC is a more affordable choice for food packaging, providing good shrink properties, but it's not suitable for microwaving.
LDPE is used primarily for bundling products, offering a basic moisture barrier.
Biodegradable options are perfect for environmentally conscious businesses, allowing for sustainable packaging without sacrificing quality.
Here are some common types of food grade shrink wrap:
- Polyolefin Shrink Wrap
- PVC Shrink Wrap
- LDPE Shrink Wrap
- Biodegradable Shrink Wrap
Benefits of Polyolefin Film
Polyolefin film is a fantastic option for food packaging, and it's not just because it's affordable - although it's priced around $100 to $300 per roll, making it very cost-effective.
One of the main benefits of polyolefin film is its non-toxicity, ensuring the safety and hygiene of food during packaging. It's also odorless, which is a big plus for food manufacturers who want to keep their products smelling fresh.

Polyolefin film has strong tensile strength, which means it can withstand the rigors of storage and transportation without breaking or tearing. This is especially important for food products that need to be moved around frequently.
Using polyolefin film can effectively extend the shelf life of food, prevent food from being affected by external environmental factors, reduce the likelihood of food spoilage and contamination, and ensure food quality and safety.
It's worth noting that polyolefin film is also heat-resistant and cold-resistant, making it a versatile material for food packaging.
Benefits of Bags
Using the right food shrink film can effectively maintain the freshness of food by isolating air and delaying oxidation and spoilage.
Well-sealed shrink film can extend the shelf life of food by preventing external environmental factors from affecting it, reducing the likelihood of spoilage and contamination, and ensuring food quality and safety.
Shrink wrap bags are a great way to store food, providing a tight seal around whatever you're storing when heated.

To get the most out of shrink wrap bags, make sure the food is completely dry before sealing it in the bag to prevent moisture from getting trapped.
Using shrink wrap bags can help keep food fresh and protected against pests, making them an ideal way to store food for a longer period.
Check this out: Shrink Wrap Food Bags
Benefits and Features
Shrink wrap food safe is a great way to keep your food fresh and protected. It's made of a thin plastic film that shrinks when heated, providing a tight seal around whatever you're storing.
Shrink wrap is durable and resistant to tears and punctures, ensuring reliable packaging for various types of food products. This makes it perfect for storing food that needs to be kept fresh for a long time.
One of the best things about shrink wrap is its clarity. It offers excellent visibility, enabling customers to easily view the packaged items, thus enhancing product appeal. This is especially important for food products that need to look appealing to customers.
Shrink wrap is also eco-friendly and non-toxic, making it a safe choice for food packaging. It's also easy to shrink and has strong tensile strength, ensuring the safety and hygiene of food during packaging.
Here are some key features and benefits of shrink wrap food safe:
- Durability: Resistant to tears and punctures
- Clarity: Offers excellent visibility
- Seal Integrity: Provides strong seals that prevent leakage and contamination
- Temperature Resistance: Can withstand fluctuations in temperature without compromising the packaging integrity
- Customizability: Available in different gauge thicknesses and sizes
Storage and Handling
Shrink wrap food safe products should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and moisture, just like our example of storing shrink wrapped meat in a basement.
It's essential to keep the shrink wrap film away from heat sources, as high temperatures can cause the plastic to degrade and potentially leach chemicals into the food, as seen in the case of shrink wrapping cheese in a hot garage.
Shrink wrapped products should be handled gently to avoid damaging the film or the contents, just as we demonstrated with handling shrink wrapped fruits and vegetables.
Labeling and dating the products is also crucial, so you can easily identify how long they've been stored and what's inside, just like the example of labeling and dating shrink wrapped leftovers.
Keep the shrink wrap film clean and dry before wrapping food, to prevent contamination and ensure a tight seal, as shown in the example of wrapping a sandwich with clean shrink wrap film.
Make sure to use the correct size of shrink wrap film for the product, to avoid unnecessary waste and ensure a secure seal, just as we did with wrapping a small container of yogurt.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should shrink packaging not be used?
Shrink packaging is not suitable for items sensitive to heat or requiring airtight sealing, such as electronics or perishable goods. Consider alternative packaging options for these types of products.
What temperature does shrink wrap melt?
Shrink wrap melts at approximately 350 degrees F. Be cautious when working with heat to avoid damaging the film.
What is food grade plastic wrap?
Food-grade plastic wrap is typically made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), two types of plastics that are safe for food contact.
Sources
- https://www.industrialpackaging.com/blog/best-shrink-film-for-food
- https://en.zjzhongda.com/news/industry-news-275.html
- https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/food-grade-shrink-wrap.html
- https://produceprocessing.net/article/shrink-wrap-bags-help-keep-food-fresh-protected/
- https://uspackagingandwrapping.com/heat-shrink-wrap/
Featured Images: pexels.com