Low Temperature Food Label: Knowledge You Can’t Miss
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Time to read 4 min
When selling labels, a common feedback from customers is that the adhesive is not strong enough, and that the labels can sometimes curl at the edges. This is something we've noticed particularly in the low-temperature food industry, where the way labels are applied is a little bit special. It's important to remember that room temperature and low temperature labels are different. The quality of the label can cause problems, and so can the environment changes when the user stores and applies the label, making the label curl or fall off. So today, we're going to answer all your questions about what to look for when selecting and applying low temperature labels.
Table of Content
Application of Low Temperature Label in Food industry
Low-temperature resistant labels are a kind of label that can keep its adhesive and won’t easily peel off under low temperature and moist conditions, which are widely used in food, beverage, frozen food packaging, cold chain transport and other industries. Generally speaking, different applications require different resistance features. For instance, a label that's going to be used in a liquid nitrogen environment needs to be able to withstand temperatures as low as -320.8 °F. But today, we will focus on the qualities required for labels in the refrigerated and frozen food industry.
Refrigerated food is usually kept at around 33.8 °F to 41 °F, while frozen food is usually stored at -0.4 °F or below. So we should make sure that the label we choose can still maintain a nice, smooth texture and don’t fall off at these temperatures.
Features of Good Low Temperature Food Label
- Maintain flexibility at low temperature, not easy to break or curl
- Good water resistance
- Can survive multiple cooling or heating cycles
Factors Affecting The Performance Of Food Labels At Low Temperatures
Adhesive
Among the many factors that affect the quality of the low-temperature label, the quality of adhesive is the first important, which needs to be able to stick well at low temperatures. Label adhesives have varying minimum application temperatures. Applying a label in temperatures outside its suggested range might lead to poor adhesion, potentially resulting in the label falling off the container.
Label Material
The material of the label is the second important factor. In general, paper labels are not recommended. Humidity is inevitable in low-temperature environments, so low-temperature labels usually use polyethylene, polypropylene and other film materials. Betckey provides film labels designed for use in low temperature environments, including DK 2211 , DK 2212 , DK 2113 , DK 2251 . We use permanent adhesives that remain sticky at low temperatures, and film material that can withstand a temperature range of -22 °F to 185 °F, which is sufficient for refrigerated and frozen foods.
Container/Package Surface
Surface Material and Cleanliness: The surface material and cleanliness of the label adhesion will affect its performance at low temperatures. Rough or dirty surfaces can reduce the adhesive's adhesion, so it is important to keep the surface of the food container/package clean to ensure the label remains sticky.
Surface Temperature: The temperature of the applied surface will affect the bonding effect. For optimal results, the surface temperature should be close to the operating temperature range of the label and adhesive.
Label Storage
The production and processing temperature of the label in the self-adhesive label factory is approximately 73.4 °F, with a relative humidity of 55%. It is therefore important that the label is stored at a temperature of about 73.4 °F. If placed outdoors or in a low temperature environment, it is easy to cause the adhesive to freeze, which will make it ineffective. Similarly, if placed in an environment with high temperature and humidity, the label will be more likely to soften and tear, which will reduce the stickiness of the label. It is therefore essential that the label is stored correctly.
How To Label A Low-temperature Food Label
You may think that there’s nothing more to learn about this because, we all know how to label an item. It’s simple! Wait a minute. If you are the one that always find your labels peeling after placed it in the right place, then don’t hurry to jump to the next part. Maybe you have missed some crucial information. Check the following steps to see if you have operated right!
Step 1: Clean the surface your labels will be applied to. Dirt and dust can prevent proper application.
Step 2: Label at the optimal temperature. It is important to note that each type of label adhesive has a minimum labeling temperature, which must be maintained when labeling. If the minimum labeling temperature is not met, the label will not adhere properly, potentially leading to curling and other issues. The optimal temperature for achieving the desired labeling effect is approximately 73.4 °F.
Step 3: Put the label at the right place. Align the label, remove the backing, and press it in place. Make sure to apply the label within the specified temperature range. Each type of label has a specific temperature requirement and it’s advisable to purchase labels that are compatible with the temperature range of the products in order to achieve optimal results.
Takeaway
This article offers guidance on the purchase and application of low temperature food labels. The low-temperature resistance needed for refrigerated and frozen products doesn't have to be as demanding as it is for other use scenarios. However, it is important to pay attention to the choice of adhesive and label material. It is also important to consider the storage conditions, labeling temperature, and use temperature of the label to ensure that the label remains intact and securely attached during use. We also introduced several Betckey square labels for use in food labeling. We hope this article has provided you with some insights into low temperature food labeling. Have fun reading!
Come to us!
Are Betckey ZB150100 freezer safe up to -80°F?
No. Unfortunately, for now, Betckey hasn’t yet launched low-temperature Dymo and Zebra labels, so you might want to go to another store.
If you want to buy thermal labels or sticker paper, you can check out more on our store
