Tetra Pak, the world leader in food processing and packaging solutions, has announced that it has signed a global agreement with Australia-based Unistraw International Ltd for a patented on-pack straw drinking system that can deliver probiotics in long life milk, dairy products and juice.

The Unistraw on-pack straw delivery system, which is compatible with most Tetra Brik Aseptic individual portion pack drink cartons, allows producers to offer consumers long life products with probiotics.
Global availability is scheduled for mid-2009.
Thanks to a unique delivery system the Unistraw solution stores the probiotics in the straw in the form of dry, stable UniBeads which are held in place by filters at both ends of the straw and dissolve as liquid is sipped through it. With this method, probiotic beverages need no refrigeration and have a shelf life of up to 12 months.
“This new on-pack straw system provides a unique marketing vehicle for our customers, which will help make milk, juice and other dairy products more exciting and engaging for the consumer,” said Michael Zacka, vice president of marketing and product management, Tetra Pak. “It’s another example of how Tetra Pak is constantly innovating to provide cost-effective packaging solutions that will help customers compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace.”
Tim York, managing director, Unistraw, said, “We developed the new system based on increasing consumer demand for convenience, health and wellbeing, choice and taste—in a  format that’s compatible with busy and increasingly mobile lifestyles. Partnering with Tetra Pak to introduce this new system is a natural fit for us. Not only do they have a long history of innovation and leadership in food packaging and processing, they also enjoy an extensive global customer base.”
Under terms of the agreement, Tetra Pak customers will have access to the new straw system for carton packaging, which Tetra Pak and Unistraw will market jointly. Customers will benefit from a new way to differentiate their milk, dairy products or juice offerings. They will also benefit from a unique marketing vehicle to enter new product categories and gain incremental revenue—such as milk or flavoured milk enhanced with live, active probiotics.
Customers will have the opportunity to revitalise the perceptions of milk among young consumers by offering a product that’s fun, tastes great and offers probiotics.
The agreement enables a new means to improve operational efficiency because these new long life products don’t require refrigeration, making them less costly to ship and store.
Customers also gain from the ability to both simplify and boost efficiency by producing multiple flavours and enhancements such as probiotics through a single production line. No additional investment is required as long as customers have one of the popular Tetra Pak TSA/21 or TSA/22 straw applicators. Minor modifications may be needed for other Tetra Pak straw applicators.
Tetra Pak signed an agreement with Unistraw in October 2007 for the on-pack Sipahh Milk flavouring straw, a patented straw drinking system which delivers flavours.