Food > Fish and Seafood > Product Inspection > Flexible Retort Pouch Defects Manual 

CHAPTER 7
DEFECT CATEGORIES

SECTION 7.7
DEFECT: COSMETIC SEAL OVERLAPS PRIMARY SEAL

CLASSIFICATION:

Cosmetic seal overlaps primary seal is considered a serious defect when the width of the primary seal is reduced to less than 3 mm (3/32-inch).

Cosmetic seal overlaps primary seal is considered a minor defect when the width of the primary seal has more than 3 mm (3/32-inch) of bonded seal.

DESCRIPTION:

The cosmetic seal, generally applied in a separate operation from the primary seal, overlaps into the primary seal area. The cosmetic seal must be formed before the pouch is thermally processed.

Cosmetic seals are not considered essential if the pouches are processed and handled properly. The inner edge of the primary closing seal is considered a critical factor to the hermetic seal of the pouch. The inner portion of the primary seal must be maintained as a continuous seal with a minimum width of 3 mm (3/32-inch).

COMMON SOURCES:

1) The pouch was misaligned in the jaws of the cosmetic sealer.

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