It is said by optimists in the food and beverage industry that no matter how bad the economy, “people still have to eat.” While that may be true, in the midst of this past year’s economic meltdown, consumers have made distinct changes to the ways in which they source and prepare their meals and in the foods they consume that have had major impacts on food and beverage packaging. Guiding most of the packaging trends are considerations of value and health. In the realm of health, consumers are looking not only for fresh, safe, and nutritious products, but also at items having “healthy,” sustainable packaging. So although tighter budgets are driving consumers to search out the best buy for their money, at the same time, greater concerns for food safety, health and wellness, and environmental sustainability are strongly influencing their food and beverage purchases.