When Did The Glue On Consumer Products Become Ultra Strong

Somewhere around 5 years ago the glue that they use on packaged products became made for people who were born on Krypton. Glue on cereal boxes, yogurt, boxes of movie theater candy, bar soap, and so on.

Now, when you try to open your cereal, especially the clear plastic pouch inside, the plastic usually tears and rips half way down the bag before the glue along the top seam itself ever yields. On yogurts, I usually end of with a top that is torn in half, and end up flinging droplets of yogurt across the room, when trying to carefully and slowly wrest the top that is glued on.

What happened consumer products industry? Is product tampering so scary and so prevalent now that the consumer must be protected by applying super-gorilla-strength glue to the packaging. Who tests this stuff?? And do they enjoy their dismembered boxes and packages that have been torn and split in half in order to get them open??

There's my box of ritz crackers. I had to scotch tape it back together before I put it in the pantry

Also, I hereby veto - in advance - the smart alec post that is forthcoming that will say it is not the glue, it is just my fingers growing weak

They stopped using horses, started using sharks and Kodiak bears.

Either that or you've damaged your wrists, somehow.

Nowadays I just decant into airtight containers, and with yogert I pierce the cover with a Knifeand roll it back...:D

Ah yes Keilj
Those goldern Elysian years when the packaging of food was minimal and the art of preservation had attained heights of meridian splendour. No fridge & butter kept in stone jars, no blister packets for pills, no anti-child squeeze/turn caps on containers, hams hung up in the kitchen, shopping every second day for fresh produce, no widgets, beer just pulled from the tap, along to the End of the World pub in Chelsea to bring grandad back a pitcher of best bitter.

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Originally Posted by MANICHAEAN

Ah yes Keilj
Those goldern Elysian years when the packaging of food was minimal and the art of preservation had attained heights of meridian splendour. No fridge & butter kept in stone jars, no blister packets for pills, no anti-child squeeze/turn caps on containers, hams hung up in the kitchen, shopping every second day for fresh produce, no widgets, beer just pulled from the tap, along to the End of the World pub in Chelsea to bring grandad back a pitcher of best bitter.

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Ha ha, thanks for the sarcasm

Actually food probably tasted better back in the days you are referring to

But my point wasn't about preservation - once you open the package, it will start to get stale - regardless of whether the glue was semi-strong, or ultra-Krypton strong. My point was, now when you open a box of toothpaste to get to the tube - the only way it will open is by the cardboard flaps tearing off. In other words, the glue will never yield , you will only gain access becasue the cardboard flaps rip off.

This, coupled with the fact that you are usually opening toothpaste first thing in the opening when you are groggy, is pretty irritating

But perhaps I should not be mad at the innovations in ultra-ultra-strong glue. Perhaps the problem lies with the cardboard manufacturers. Come on guys, push the ultra-strong cardboard science forward so it can keep up with the glue science

Ok, I'm no expert but this is a "niche" thread and should not be treated either lightly or in a tangential manner by myself.

Therefore from what I can ascertain, we are dealing here with "Hot Melt Adhesives" used in packaging which have a limited adhesion strength when compared with epoxy, acrylics & polyurethanes.

However, and perhaps this answers the crux of the question you pose:
1. It still regarded in the industry, (of which I'm not a member) as of a superior seal quality, such that it penetrates most cardboard stock and secures all flaps.
2. It is classified as ensuring tamper evident packaging i.e. it will cause package board fibre to tear when opened.
3. It is pilferage resistant, unlike tape.

In a nutshell; you are obliged to "shock & awe" a section of such packaging, whether it be a cardboard box or a cereal inner sealed envelope. All this in the name of stopping thieving & ensuring controlled quality.

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Originally Posted by MANICHAEAN

In a nutshell; you are obliged to "shock & awe" a section of such packaging, whether it be a cardboard box or a cereal inner sealed envelope. All this in the name of stopping thieving & ensuring controlled quality.

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I've resigned myself to accepting it - the marketing and consumer products industry always wins anyway

I've bought some snow goggles to catch the yogurt spray every time I open my yoplait :ladysman:

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Originally Posted by keilj

(...) Perhaps the problem lies with the cardboard manufacturers. Come on guys, push the ultra-strong cardboard science forward so it can keep up with the glue science

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I've noticed this stronger glue phenomenon myself. Up to now, I can cope by using scissors and tongs -- what kind of heavy duty tools am I to use in future, if they are going to strengthen the cardboard too?

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Originally Posted by Lulim

I've noticed this stronger glue phenomenon myself. Up to now, I can cope by using scissors and tongs -- what kind of heavy duty tools am I to use in future, if they are going to strengthen the cardboard too?

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ninja swords and/or dynamite

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Originally Posted by keilj

ninja swords and/or dynamite

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... I do hope they come with the product then because I'd be hard put indeed as to how to come by either of them :rolleyes: