The food packaging industry is feeling the heat these days, pressured from all sides to modernize materials and processes.
Food recalls continue to be in the news. In 2024, a listeriosis outbreak linked to deli meats resulted in 10 deaths and 60 hospitalizations across multiple states. And just this year, a multistate outbreak of Listeria infections associated with ready-to-eat meat and poultry products prompted widespread recalls and public health alerts. Meanwhile, packagers face new sustainability regulations taking effect around the world.
The challenges are daunting. But what if you could dramatically improve not only the safety of your packaging, but also the speed and efficiency of your processes, just by adding one technology to your packaging line?
The fact is, you can. The technology is Pulsed Light, and it’s revolutionizing pre-fill sterilization in food packaging.
What makes Pulsed Light so different
Pulsed Light should not be confused with LED or low-intensity UV light. It’s completely different. It works by delivering high-intensity pulses of broad-spectrum light—including UV—that destroy harmful microorganisms on contact. The short, intense bursts of light break the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and molds so completely that they can’t reproduce or survive.
Pulsed Light does all that in just seconds, without heat or chemicals. It’s FDA-approved for use with food products, and it works with any open-mouth containers, from jars and bottles to cups, trays, and tubs.
Why it’s a game-changer for food packaging
Pre-fill sterilization is a key step in safe food packaging, so any improvement is important for both safety and public image. Pulsed Light provides not one, but many major improvements.
It’s a game-changer based on effectiveness alone. It reduces bacterial contamination on surfaces by more than 99.9%—a level of effectiveness that rivals or exceeds traditional chemical or thermal methods.
But that’s only the start.
Unlike heat or chemicals, Pulsed Light can be used with a wide range of packaging materials, including glass, paper, and plastic. There’s no need to worry about melting or warping from heat, or chemical residues being left behind. Pulsed Light is fast too, working in a few seconds or less, so it keeps pace with production speeds. And, because it uses less energy than many traditional methods—and no chemicals at all—it supports sustainability goals while it cuts operational costs.
XENON PurePulse™ technology is available in a range of lamp sizes and configurations to fit your application.
Stainless steel wash-down housings are designed for food-grade environments.
A real-world example: Yogurt cups
Yogurt containers are an ideal application for Pulsed Light. Cups are typically plastic with a wide opening, and yogurt is perishable dairy food, making shelf-life critical.
That’s why companies like Alfa Machine, a leading OEM in the dairy industry, has integrated XENON’s Pulsed Light system into its yogurt cup filling lines to provide instant, chemical-free sterilization. Using intense UV pulses—up to 100,000 times more powerful than sunlight—the system neutralizes pathogens without slowing down production or compromising packaging materials.
Alfa Machine’s FCM30-L4 Ultra-Clean Fill-Seal Machine uses XENON Pulsed Light for in-line decontamination of cups and soft lids
Alfa Machine can now provide a system that’s both faster and safer than other solutions, giving them and their customers a competitive edge. You can read more about the application here.
The Time to Modernize is Now
The pressure to improve food packaging isn’t going away—it’s only getting stronger. Governments around the world are enacting new laws to protect consumers and ensure food safety.
Companies that embrace safer, more effective sterilization methods will stand out in the market and build trust with consumers. That’s why upgrading your pre-fill process to include Pulsed Light could be the single most important improvement you can make as a food packager.
The time to modernize is now, and the technology to help you do it is XENON’s PurePulse™ technology, available exclusively with our own manufactured XENON lamps. Contact XENON today to learn more.