Research by the Cornell University Department of Food Science Finds the EEASY Lid Reduces Jar Removal Torque While Maintaining Sealing Performance

When CCT developed the EEASY Lid, the first jar lid innovation in 80 years, the focus was on creating a jar lid that was easy to open while protecting the safety and integrity of jarred food products. Fast forward to today, and the EEASY Lid is widely recognized in the market as an accessible, safe packaging solution. That market validation is supported by new research conducted by the Cornell University Department of Food Science, which verifies the ease of opening and sealing performance of the EEASY Lid.

In a new peer reviewed white paper entitled “New Aluminum Lug Closure Reduces Removal Torque while Ensuring Hermetic Seals in Glass Jars,” Cornell Department of Food Science researchers studied the removal torque and hermetic seal performance of the EEASY Lid – referenced as a vacuum release aluminum lug jar lid – to traditional steel lug jar lids, the packaging industry standard. Jars packed with tomato sauce and capped with both types of lids were evaluated.

Researchers found:

1. The EEASY Lid delivered a hermetic seal comparable to jars with the standard steel lug closures, meaning the EEASY Lid does not affect sealing performance.

2. Removal torque values for jars with the EEASY Lid were 20% to 51% lower than those for standard lids, making the jars with the EEASY Lid easier to open.

These findings were recently published in Food Protection Trends, the International Association for Food Protection’s bi-monthly publication that publishes peer reviewed articles on applied research, applications of current technology and general interest subjects for food safety professionals.

In a press release highlighting the findings and publication of the white paper, CCT president Brandon Bach said, “While we know the benefits of the EEASY Lid, third party research like this helps to further validate that the EEASY Lid is a smart accessible packaging solution for brands to offer to consumers.”

The EEASY Lid is currently being used on products in more than 500 Meijer, Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper and Tops Friendly Markets stores in addition to select specialty grocers in the Northeast United States. The EEASY Lid is also being used on products in EDEKA Kempken stores in Krefeld, Germany.

The white paper can be found in Food Protection Trends Vol 44, No. 4, p. 273-282. Click here to access the latest issue.