Acceptable Cap Torques for Processed Food Containers for Aged Women

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to measure the twisting strength of aged women for different types of caps and to determine the acceptable torque of the caps of processed food containers for aged women. An experiment was conducted in the laboratory to find twisting strengths (torque) of young and aged people and the required torques to open various caps of processed food containers using a torque measurement device. Fifty nine young women who were in the range of twenty to thirty years old and fifty aged women who were in the range of sixty to seventy years old participated as subjects. Seventeen processed food containers which were categorized into three types based upon diameters were used for measurements. It was found that the torque required to open caps of containers needs to be within 74 N cm for pilfer proof caps with the diameter of 25mm to 30mm, 141 N cm for twist-off caps with the diameter of 40mm and 214 N cm for screw caps with the diameter of 65mm to 75mm. Aged women's twisting strengths were only 62.9% of young women's twisting strengths. It was also found that aged women had difficulty in opening 58.9% of processed food caps in use.