Abstract: A packing material, generally in sheet form, is made from a combination of a support sheet and a water-retentive material that is intimately connected to the support sheet. Moisture or exudate originating from a product enclosed by the packing material is absorbed and retained by the water-retentive material without affecting the physical strength of the support sheet or the packaged product. In a preferred embodiment, the support sheet is made of paper or a polymeric material, such as polyethylene, and the water retentive material is formed from polyacrylonitrile, or an acrylonitrile based co-polymer, treated with an alkaline aqueous solution of aliphatic or cycloaliphatic monofunctional or polyfunctional alcohols that have melting points greater than or equal to 110.degree. C. The packaging material is ideal for the packaging of moisture sensitive foods, such as cheese.