Retort
Pouch

A type of food packaging known as a retort pouch is constructed from a laminate of flexible plastic and metal foils. It is utilised as an alternative to conventional industrial canning techniques and enables the sterile packaging of a wide variety of foods and beverages handled by aseptic processing. The flexible metal-plastic laminate used to build retort pouches is strong enough to resist the sterilisation process’s high temperatures. The food is first prepared, either it is cooked or raw, and then sealed in the retort pouch. In a retort or autoclave, the pouch is then heated to 240–250 °F (116–121 °C) for a period of time while under intense pressure. Comparable to pressure cooking, the food within is prepared. It won’t spoil because of this method, which consistently eliminates all frequently occurring germs (especially Clostridium botulinum).

The material used to make retort pouches are:

Polyester (PET): Offers a hard and glossy coating and allows for interior printing.

Nylon (bi-oriented polyamide) offers resistance to punctures.

Aluminium (Al): A remarkably thin but effective gas barrier is provided by aluminium (Al).

Food-grade cast polypropylene (CPP): It is employed as the sealing layer.

Polyethylene (PE): As a layer for sealing and bonding, polyethylene (PE) is an alternative to polypropylene (PP).