There seems to be an ever increasing number of products, mainly foodstuffs, which are sold in clip seal bags which have a small cut in either side which are supposed to allow the bag to be simply and cleanly torn open.
Some will not tear at all whilst others do not tear uniformely, so a pair of scissors is required to complete the task.
Even then, sometimes cutting straight from the cut on one to the cut on the other side still does not allow the bag to be opened, and a second cut has to be made lower down near the clip seal.
How hard can it be to manufacture a bag that can be simply opened in this day and age?
Agreed!! I find it really frustrating because i have arthritis in my hands and they just arent as strong as they used to be. I have similar issues with jars of pickles which have been vac sealed. Time to get some aids, maybe.
I join with you and @SueW as some closures are ever harder to open, and others are inconsistent (like milk jug seals) where some have more glue than others, and if you donât have sufficient hand strength too bad.
I complained about difficult milk seals a while back and both Coles and Woolies assured me they met all standards for âaccessibilityâ. In retrospect that was like claiming our government(s) work for us rather than themselves as if they were profit making businesses, as often than not.
I am not sure where these are available locally. We bought them while in the USA. They break the vacuum in jars without bending the lids and the tops then come off quite easily. The picture is misleading. One applies the device to gently pop the vacuum and then twists the lid off normally. It is not a pry.
I think I may have seen something like this on the Magnamail website. Thereâs all kinds of gadgetry there, some is good, some mediocre. Iâll have a squiz, because it looks like its very handy.
Well found @mark_m. Interestingly these types of things are commonly available in most kitchenware shops in the US. I had not thought about speciality suppliers.
Robins Kitchen had been a supplier of the D.Line or Brix Jarkeysâ (Trade name I am pretty sure), but as I donât visit them much possibly not a current item (EDIT Yes they still do). Also can be found in Spotlight at times I believe. House.com.au (same stores as Robins Kitchen under a different name) also stock/supply it both online and in their stores.
You might even be able to get a free sample (I donât know if you will but they do offer the free sample as part of their promo video) by ringing Diplomat Blades about their âKlever Innovationsâ on (03) 9562 0777. YMMV
You are welcome. I also recollect seeing a variety of jar and bottle opening devices in a small physical store that specialised in aids for the elderly etc.
So there may be more options?
The more options the better given the increased number of us post 60, 70 etc who choose to remain independent.
These bagâs drive me crazy! foodland put their lamb chopâs in them, and I struggle everytime to open them, I complained to the supermarket, and their reply was that is was more hygenic, I hate them!
Agree that most of the ones we use donât work properlyâŠwhile some may seal okay, the same bags donât âtearâ along the nominated area or the bags tear okay but the seal is not 100% effective.
The only one which I can recall that did work was Tassal Australian smoked Salmon cooking pieces. The bag ihas perforations to allow tearing exactly where it should and the seal water tight (which is needed when replacing partly used product back in the fridge for future use.
Maybe other product manufactures which also use similar bags could see what Tassalâs are doing to see if they can also get it right.
Iâve given up on resealable as a reason to purchase one product over another, except for the rare package with a zip seal built in. And then some of these are not always reliable or easy to use.
Iâd rather save the 2c on the design and waste in extra packaging to see a saving in the cost of the product.
We simply put the opened and unused portion inside a clean zip seal fridge/freezer bag. We know they work and can be washed for reuse.
A comment on a slightly different subject, but as there have been several replies regarding disability issues, I have posted it here.
I bought a 30 pack of Energiser AA alkaline batteries this week and I needed to use 6 of them tonight.
The tamper-proof welded plastic packaging was not provided with any means of being opened other than cut, unlike some other packs which have a paper backing, and even perforations to assist opening.
I used a razor sharp small utility knife but I still had great difficulty in managing to cut the plastic right around the perimeter.
I would suspect that it would be nigh-on impossible for a frail person, someone with arthritis, or anyone without a sharp instrument to achieve, and everyone risks the possibility of a nasty cut.
The pack of 24 Energiser AAA alkaline batteries I bought at the same store a few days earlier had a thin cardboard back which I quickly and easily removed.
What is Energiser thinking? That people are going to open and steal the AA batteries but not the much smaller, lighter and more expensive AAA batteries?
Exactly. Ziplock baggies are a stronger variety than most (eg freezer bags) and they work well. I bought one pack a few years ago and am only now getting down to the last few because the others have been washed and reused to heck and gone. I also have a variety of sealable plastic containers (and even some glass ones with plastic sealing lids) for fridge storage, but I find the ziplocks to be most space efficient.
Has anyone tried to open a BandAid lately in a hurry? What a nightmare, why do they do this, I have to use one every day a the moment, and I have to resort to scissors.
I thoroughly agree. We have two small dogs and the treats packets are notorious for not opening along the dotted line. As earlier stated, even scissors along the line is not always successful first time. While on the topic, we have grand children and recently their muesli bars and other packets are impossible for an adult to open let alone a child at school. Even juices and milk now require a gadget to unscrew the lids as it is getting harder to break the seal. Maybe companies need a couple of us oldies to point out the deficiencies of âeasy openâ and also come up with a solution; like we had to do in the olden days (as my grandchildren say).
