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Conestoga Applied Research
Conestoga Applied Research

Extending shelf-life and optimizing packaging for Real Food for Real Kids

March 12, 2026
Chef in kitchen

Cynthia Riddle, Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab

Real Food for Real Kids partnered with Conestoga’s Food Research & Innovation Lab (CFRIL) to explore packaging solutions that could support the company’s continued growth. The project focused on evaluating approaches to extend the refrigerated shelf-life of select dips and soft-cooked vegetable products, helping the company improve distribution flexibility while maintaining product quality. 

CFRIL conducted an on-site review of the company’s current packaging materials and production processes, followed by shelf-life testing of several products. The results confirmed that the packaging film already in inventory provided a suitable barrier and sealing performance. This finding allowed Real Food for Real Kids to move forward confidently with the existing material, avoiding unnecessary waste. 

The research also demonstrated that modified atmosphere packaging can help extend refrigerated shelf-life for certain products. Based on these findings, CFRIL provided recommendations to support further improvements and help the company continue scaling its production while maintaining food safety and product integrity. 

Funding for this project was provided by the National Research Council Canada.

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