New Food Packaging Allows Consumers to Smell Products Before Opening

Tri-Seal, a division of Tekni-Plex, Inc., has received a patent for their innovative Sniff Seal technology that allows consumers to smell the contents of a packaged food product without affecting the seal itself or compromising the quality and safety of the product. This packaging allows food companies to play on the sensory perceptions of consumers and persuade them to purchase with appealing scents.

“An extensive range of products can benefit from this technology. Imagine being able to experience the smell of fresh peanut butter or mango-scented shampoo or spring-fresh deodorant in a retail aisle without removing a seal or a fitment? That’s what Sniff Seal brings to the purchasing experience,” said David Andrulonis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Tri-Seal.

According to the company, this new seal protects food products just as other food seals do, but Sniff Seal allows for scent permeation through an induction seal closure liner. In addition, this sealing technology prevents instances where consumers would peel back the film of a product in order to smell it.

“There are many instances where consumers want to know what a product actually smells like before putting it in the shopping cart. Unfortunately, there are times when consumers peel back seals or remove fitments to experience the scent before buying. When a package is returned to the shelf in a compromised condition, it is no longer sellable. As a result, the retail industry experiences a significant amount of loss annually,” said Andrulonis.

According to the FDA, food seal tampering increases the possibility of contamination in a food product and compromises its safety. Sniff Seal has the potential to eliminate that risk in the food industry by allowing consumers to smell a product easily without having to break its protective seal.

In addition, food companies can take advantage of Sniff Seal by playing on the olfactory senses of consumers. By utilizing familiar odors such as peanut butter, coffee, and fruits, food manufacturers are likely to attract more customers. Additionally, food companies can boast the freshness of their products by allowing consumers to smell their offering prior to purchasing. This move would likely increase consumer trust in a brand and add to transparency initiatives.

A Mintel study found that transparency can be taken literally in the food space. About 40 percent of American consumers were found to choose a product simply because they were able to see the product inside of its packaging. This new Sniff Seal technology can add more value to such packaging initiatives by allowing consumers to see and smell what is inside of a product.