Stand Up Pouches for Product Packaging

Will Baby Food Pouches Explode in Checked Luggage?

Written by David Marinac | Jul 26, 2013 10:17:00 PM

The answer to this question, until some time back, would most probably have been yes. There were instances of baby food pouches exploding inside cramped storage space in airplanes. This was a source of serious concern for people travelling with babies as most of the times the baby food ended up spilling over the rest of the luggage. However, with technological advances in the packaging process and introduction of new and improved materials, such instances have become rare.

Stand up pouch bags from StandUpPouches.net are modern pouches that are designed to withstand high air pressure and stay intact even when stored in minimal space. They are manufactured by laminating together a number of barrier films to ensure that the contents remain safe even in rough handling conditions. This provides tear and puncture resistance to the baby food pouch. If you are carrying baby food in a simple plastic pouch, it may explode.

Why did the explosions occur?
What really triggers this explosion is the drop in the air pressure once the airplane starts ascending. The baby food is packed in airtight pouches at the ground level. The volume of the air inside the pouch cannot change, leading to the expansion of air which hikes its pressure. So there is a difference between the air pressure inside the pouch and outside the pouch. Even though the air conditioning system of the airplane controls the air pressure to ensure the comfort of the passengers, the pressure maintained inside the airplane is generally equal to atmospheric pressure at 7000-8000 feet.

In traditional baby food packets, this pressure difference is more than what the pouch can withstand, leading to its explosion. Going by the same logic, the pouch will contract if it is taken underwater as the pressure inside the pouch will be less than the surrounding pressure.

Our stand up pouches are strong enough to withstand this level of pressure difference and thus they can be easily taken on a flight without a mess (you need to check the rules of the particular airport first). Even though our pouches are tough, it is a good idea to wrap them in a plastic sheet or bag. This will prevent the baby food pouches from suffering damage as your luggage may be handled roughly.

So if you are carrying a baby food pouch made by our company, there are almost zero chances of it exploding in an airplane.