Food safety has improved for worried consumers worldwide thanks to the need that "best before/expiry" dates and lot numbers be printed. In the event of a product recall, tracking lot numbers and expiration dates is crucial. In addition to being safe for food packaging solutions, the printed pictures must still be readable for tracking reasons following a variety of end-user handling procedures that could subject them to culinary oil exposure, smearing, scratching, etc. Furthermore, other data like item numbers, part numbers, and barcodes must also be extremely durable.

Typically, the assembly line process incorporates the printing of barcodes onto flexible packaging. The substrate, usually a bag or other container, is printed directly onto by the inline thermal transfer printer. For printing on plastic bags (polybags), wax and wax/resin ribbons are frequently utilized in this application and don't need to be specifically made for this purpose.

Ribbons are specifically designed to be compatible with the substrate and to print at high rates when food packaging is done using inline direct packaging printing on polypropylene or other food and beverage bags.
We are pleased to inform customers that all of the thermal transfer materials we supply from MNS are approved for use in food packing operations (indirect food contact) as long as they are utilized as directed.