Food Labels: Which Label Film Balances Adhesiveness and Safety

Preface 

Food labels are an important window for consumers to understand food information, carrying key content such as ingredients, shelf life, and production information. As the carrier of the label, “ carrier ” , its performance directly affects the effectiveness of the label and the safety of the food. In the production and application of food labels, label films need to meet both good adhesion and strict safety requirements, which poses considerable challenges for the selection of film materials. 

Chinafilm Group has been deeply engaged in the field of new film materials for many years, with rich experience and profound understanding in the research and production of food contact films. This article will start from the two core requirements of food label films: adhesion and safety, analyze the characteristics of different types of label films, discuss how to find a balance between the two, provide references for food enterprises in selecting label films, and help promote safety and standardized development in the food industry. 

1. Core Requirements of Food Label Films: Adhesion and Safety 

(1) Adhesion: Ensuring Stable Attachment of Labels 

1. The Importance of Adhesion for Food Labels 

Food labels need to be firmly attached to the surface of food packaging. Whether during production, transportation, storage, or sales, there must be no peeling or curling, otherwise consumers will not be able to obtain complete food information, which may even cause misunderstandings and disputes. Good adhesion is key to ensuring label stability, allowing the label to maintain good attachment under various environmental conditions such as different temperatures, humidity, and packaging material surfaces (such as plastic, glass, metal, etc.). 

2. Factors Affecting the Adhesion of Label Films 

The adhesion of label films mainly depends on the type of adhesive used and the coating process. Different adhesives have different adhesion characteristics; for example, pressure-sensitive adhesives can produce adhesion at room temperature, while hot melt adhesives require heating to activate adhesion. The uniformity of the coating process also affects adhesion; uniform coating ensures consistent adhesion across the label film, avoiding local adhesion deficiencies that cause label detachment. Additionally, the cleanliness and flatness of the surface being labeled, as well as environmental temperature and humidity, also impact the final adhesion effect of the label film. 

(2) Safety: Protecting Food Consumption Safety 

1. The Significance of Safety for Food Labels 

Food labels come into direct contact with food or food packaging, making their safety crucial. The materials used in label films and adhesives must not contain substances harmful to human health, such as heavy metals, solvent residues, or toxic additives, as these substances may migrate into the food and harm consumers' health. Therefore, food label films must comply with relevant food safety standards and regulations, undergo strict testing and certification, and ensure no contamination of food during use. 

2. Factors Determining the Safety of Label Films 

The safety of label films is mainly determined by their raw materials and production processes. The choice of raw materials is fundamental; resins, adhesives, and other materials must meet food contact standards, avoiding recycled materials or unqualified additives. Production processes also affect safety; for example, incomplete solvent evaporation during adhesive production can lead to excessive solvent residues; improper temperature control during film processing may produce toxic substances. Additionally, printing inks on label films must meet food safety requirements to prevent harmful substance migration. 

2. Common Types of Food Label Films and Their Characteristics Comparison 

(1) BOPP Label Film 

1. Adhesion Performance 

BOPP BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) label films usually use pressure-sensitive adhesives, which have good initial adhesion and can quickly attach to food packaging surfaces. Their adhesion is relatively less affected by temperature and remains stable at room temperature. However, in low-temperature environments, BOPP label film adhesion may decrease, possibly causing label edges to curl; in high temperature and high humidity environments, if the adhesive quality is poor, adhesive overflow may occur, affecting the label's appearance and adhesion. 

2. Safety Performance 

High-quality BOPP label films use raw materials and adhesives that are strictly selected and comply with food contact standards, ensuring high safety. However, some low-end BOPP label films may use recycled materials or inferior adhesives, posing safety risks such as excessive heavy metals and solvent residues. Therefore, when selecting BOPP label films, products with quality assurance should be chosen, and relevant food safety certification documents should be reviewed.

3. Applicable Scenarios 

BOPP Label films have good printing performance and transparency, suitable for surface printed labels on various food packaging such as biscuits, candies, and beverages. They have good stability at room temperature and are suitable for most food packaging under non-extreme conditions. 

(2) PE Label Film 

1. Adhesion Performance 

PE The adhesion of polyethylene (PE) label films varies depending on the adhesive used. PE label films using high-quality pressure-sensitive adhesives have long-lasting and stable adhesion, adapting well to different packaging material surfaces. Label films have good flexibility, can conform to curved or irregularly shaped packaging, and have good attachment. However, in high-temperature environments, label films using high-quality pressure-sensitive adhesives have long-lasting and stable adhesion, adapting well to different packaging material surfaces. the heat resistance of label films is relatively poor, which may cause adhesion to decrease or labels to fall off. label films using high-quality pressure-sensitive adhesives have long-lasting and stable adhesion, adapting well to different packaging material surfaces. The material itself has good chemical stability and safety, meeting food contact requirements. 

2. Safety Performance 

PE Label films usually use solvent-free or water-based adhesives, reducing the risk of solvent residues and further improving safety. Therefore, label films using high-quality pressure-sensitive adhesives have long-lasting and stable adhesion, adapting well to different packaging material surfaces. label films are widely used in food packaging, especially suitable for packaging labels that come into direct contact with food. label films using high-quality pressure-sensitive adhesives have long-lasting and stable adhesion, adapting well to different packaging material surfaces. Label films have good flexibility and high safety, suitable for packaging labels of dairy products, frozen foods, fresh foods, etc. They can withstand certain low-temperature environments and maintain good adhesion under freezing conditions. 

3. Applicable Scenarios 

PE (3) 

（三） PET Label Film 

1. Adhesion Performance 

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) label film has high strength and hardness, and its adhesion mainly depends on the performance of the adhesive. High-quality  PET  Label film paired with high-performance pressure-sensitive adhesive can maintain good adhesion over a wide temperature range, with better high and low temperature resistance than  BOPP and  label films using high-quality pressure-sensitive adhesives have long-lasting and stable adhesion, adapting well to different packaging material surfaces. label film. Even under extreme conditions such as high-temperature sterilization or low-temperature freezing, it can maintain stable attachment of the label. 

2. Safety Performance 

PET The material has good chemical stability, is not easily decomposed to produce harmful substances, and has high safety. PET  The production process of the label film is usually standardized, and the adhesives and printing inks used mostly comply with food safety standards. However, due to the  PET  characteristics of the material itself, there may be some difficulties in recycling, but this does not directly affect its safety as a food label film. 

3. Applicable Scenarios 

PET The label film has excellent high and low temperature resistance and chemical corrosion resistance, suitable for food packaging labels that require high-temperature sterilization, refrigeration, or freezing, such as canned food, sauces, frozen food, etc. At the same time, its high strength and wear resistance also make it suitable for food packaging that requires long-term preservation. 

3 Comprehensive considerations and future trends in food label film selection 

(1) Key factors in selecting food label films 

1. Food characteristics 

Different foods have different characteristics, such as whether refrigeration, freezing, or high-temperature sterilization is required, which will affect the choice of label film. For foods that require low-temperature storage, label films with good low-temperature resistance and stable adhesion should be selected; for foods that require high-temperature sterilization, label films with high-temperature resistance should be chosen. At the same time, the acidity, alkalinity, and fat content of the food will also affect the performance of the label film and should be selected according to specific conditions. 

2. Packaging materials 

There are many types of food packaging materials, such as plastic bottles, glass bottles, metal cans, composite packaging bags, etc. Different packaging materials have different surface characteristics, which require different adhesion properties of the label film. For example, glass surfaces are smooth and require label films with strong initial adhesion; plastic packaging surfaces may have some roughness and require label films that can adhere better. 

3. Regulatory requirements 

The selection of food label films must comply with relevant regulatory requirements. Different countries and regions may have different standards and regulations for food contact materials. Food companies need to understand the regulatory requirements of the target market when selecting label films to ensure that the label films used meet local standards and avoid losses caused by compliance issues. 

(2) Future development trends of food label films 

1. Environmental friendliness 

With the continuous improvement of environmental awareness, environmentally friendly food label films will become a development trend. Label films made from biodegradable materials can naturally degrade after use, reducing environmental pollution. At the same time, the application of solvent-free and water-based adhesives will become more widespread, further reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) and conforming to the concept of green environmental protection. 

2. Functionalization 

Future food label films will develop towards multifunctionality. In addition to good adhesion and safety, they will add some special functions, such as anti-counterfeiting, antibacterial, and temperature-sensitive color-changing functions. For example, label films with temperature-sensitive color-changing functions can indicate whether the storage temperature of the food is appropriate through color changes, ensuring food quality. 

3. Intelligentization 

Intelligentization is another important development direction for food label films. By embedding microchips or QR codes and other information carriers in the label film, functions such as food traceability, anti-counterfeiting, and marketing can be realized. Consumers can scan QR codes to obtain detailed information such as food production information and quality inspection reports, enhancing trust in the food. 

Conclusion 

The selection of food label films needs to find a perfect balance between adhesion and safety. Different types of label films have their own characteristics and applicable scenarios. BOPP Label films have good printing performance, suitable for room temperature food packaging; label films using high-quality pressure-sensitive adhesives have long-lasting and stable adhesion, adapting well to different packaging material surfaces. Label films have good flexibility and safety, suitable for direct contact with food and low-temperature environments; PET  Label films have excellent high and low temperature resistance, suitable for food packaging under extreme conditions. 

Chinafilm Group always takes food safety as its responsibility, continuously optimizing the adhesion and safety of food label films through technological innovation, providing high-quality products and professional solutions for food companies. In actual selection, food companies should comprehensively consider factors such as food characteristics, packaging materials, and regulatory requirements to choose suitable label films to ensure stable attachment of labels and food safety and reliability. 

In the future, with continuous technological progress and increasing environmental requirements, food label films will achieve greater development in environmental friendliness, functionality, and intelligence, providing stronger support for the healthy development of the food industry. Let us work together to safeguard consumers' dietary safety through high-quality food label films.