Elements Needed For Modified Atmosphere Packaging
When it comes to the packaging of fresh foods, the first thing you need to consider is the preservation of those foods. One of the best ways to ensure that is to use modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Implementation of this packaging will require you to source some necessary elements, which include equipment and gasses.
It is easy to get the equipment, but you are going to have to research thoroughly on what type of gas or gasses you will need. One way is to work with a university that has a food science lab. They will perform accelerated aging tests to determine the shelf life of a food product having a particular type of gas in the package.
Another way to get the right gasses for your products is to contact suppliers who deal with the production and supply of these gasses. For this purpose, you may have to search for suppliers who produce gasses for MAP applications, but it shouldn’t be too bothersome.
Furthermore, you are going to have to learn a bit about the composition of different gasses to preserve food items in a better way. For instance, red meat requires some oxygen to remain safe from discoloring. Bread, on the other hand, requires total removal of oxygen to prevent mold. Every product requires a different gas, or a different composition of gasses, to remain preserved.
Choosing a supplier
After figuring out the right type or composition of gasses required for your food products, you are going to have to pick a supplier. You can source gasses from a dedicated gas supply company, or sometimes from a packaging company. Gasses for MAP are common, but you might not be able to source them from your packaging vendor.
In some cases, your vendor would work with the gas supply company to source gasses for your MAP applications. The best thing about this collaboration is that your vendor will take care of everything, from sourcing gasses to choosing the right materials for packaging.
Equipment to produce MAP
The most necessary elements that you are going to have to buy for your MAP applications include an oxygen analyzer, chamber sealer, and the right shrink film.
For modified atmosphere packaging, you are going to need to keep an eye on the oxygen content in the package. A handheld device that can help you carry out this analysis is called Oxygen Analyzer. Given that several applications for MAP require complete or partial removal of oxygen from the package, this device is a must-have.
Packaging foods with MAP will need you to replace nitrogen with oxygen in a package. The machine that you are going to need in this regard is called a chamber sealer. This machine removes all of the oxygen from the package puts nitrogen in its place. This process results in air-tight packaging. The packaging is then sealed using a heating element.
Often, you may need to use shrink films as gas barriers. Low permeability featured in these films results in reductions in moisture and oxygen.
Remember, you are going to have to learn to configure your machine correctly if you want to implement the MAP in the right way. For this purpose, you may find it helpful to discuss with a packaging consultant.