Aseptic filling adapted for HDPE bottles. (Blow Molding).

Aseptic filling of low-acid foods like nutritional drinks and pasta is gaining the attention of U.S. food packagers because the approach extends product shelf life without refrigeration. Aseptic food packaging has until now been largely restricted to paper/film/foil composites. But Tetra Pak in Vernon Hills, Mich., has changed that with its LFA-20 linear aseptic system for multi-layer HDPE bottles. This introduction puts lightweight, economical HDPE barrier containers into competition for packaging pasta, sauces, flavored milk, infant formula, and vitamin-reinforced beverages.

Tetra Pak installed the first Tetra Plast LFA-20 system at a plant operated by Jasper Products in Joplin, Mo. The system has FDA acceptance for use with aseptically filled HDPE food containers, opening the way for freer design of packages (other than "brick" shapes). A key advance is Tetra Pak's special sealed-neck bottle, which reportedly provides superior hygiene in protecting the bottle interior prior to filling. The sealed neck design is also said to increase filling rates. Tel: [phone], www.tetrapakusa.com