why do some foods, like pickels, still come in a glass jar, but most beverages, like milk, have migrated to waxed paper or plastic containers?

Question

why do some foods, like pickels, still come in a glass jar, but most beverages, like milk, have migrated to waxed paper or plastic containers?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

I buy pickles from the farm stores around here all the time in plastic containers. They’re not meant to be shelf stable, they’re not pasteurized, but as long as they remain refrigerated they’re fine for 6 weeks or so. If they needed to be shelf stable they’d need more durable packaging – glass works really well. Its non-reactive with the acids, won’t leach chemicals, and won’t mess with the flavor.