Facing a dramatic increase in childhood obesity in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission was tasked with examining food and beverage marketing to children and adolescents. Its July 2008 report entitled "Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents," outlines several recommendations for future actions by the food industry to encourage better nutrition. Several packaging-related suggestions were made to companies, such as expanding efforts to package more nutritious products in ways that are more appealing to children and continuing to use product packaging to control portion sizes and calories.

CROWN Food Packaging North America, a business unit of Crown Holdings, Inc., offers several innovative technologies that can help food marketers achieve these goals. Among them is the award-winning family of PeelSeam™ peelable ends, which offer quick and easy removal, helping children and 'on-the-move' moms bring along their favorite, nutritious foods without the need for a can opener.

When combined with Crown's single-serve bowl-shaped cans, children can enjoy portion-controlled meals, snacks and desserts straight from the package, and moms save the time and effort associated with transferring product to a separate dish and the clean up later. For brand owners, the bowls have a sleek, modern shape that draws attention on store shelves and helps convey a premium image.

Ideal for packaging a range of single-serve ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, the PeelSeam™ opening system consists of a thin, flexible foil heat-sealed to a rigid steel or aluminum ring. By grasping the small tab on the lid, children can open packages smoothly and easily with a simple, fluid gesture, leaving no sharp edges.

Available in round or rectangular shapes ranging from 211 diameter (65mm) to 401 diameter (99mm) in size, PeelSeam™ peelable ends also provide an opportunity for brand owners to enhance brand recognition by decorating the panel with company logos or fun graphics

In addition to being easy to open, the PeelSeam™ package offers an unrivaled barrier against light, oxygen and water ingress to ensure product integrity, an essential feature for maintaining flavor and sterility for processed foods that are consumed without extra preparation. They are also designed to run through over-pressure retorts and conventional filling and seaming equipment.

"When used together, these technologies make it easy for parents to offer healthy, packable foods to their children," says David Underwood, President, CROWN Food Packaging North America. "Snacks and meals can go right in a lunchbox, backpack or purse and be consumed whenever and wherever their children may go."