M A P & VAC U U M PAC K AG I N G
Original freshness and shelf life guaranteed Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) food products is popular, offering several benefits to food producers, packers and consumers. Food Review spoke to Zibo’s Neil Engelbrecht on what makes this type of packaging ideal for the food and beverage industry.
F
ood is a biologically sensitive
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substance. Its freshness and shelf-life are affected by
a product’s inherent properties. These include the presence of microorganisms, cell respiration, pH and food composition. External factors, such as temperature, hygienic conditions,
Zibo offers a one-stop-shop for all your machine, tray and lidding film needs. The company can troubleshoot and resolve any problems or questions you might have.
gas atmosphere and processing methods can also impact the quality of a product. MAP is a natural shelf-lifeenhancing packaging method that maintains the quality of food by retaining its original taste, texture and appearance.
MEAT & MAP Zibo tray sealing machines can move through a vacuum and subsequent gas cycle where the right food gas is inserted into the meat trays to ensure that the right environment is present in the pack. The effect is that the pack inhibits microbial growth activity by effectively slowing down the spoilage or ageing process. The gas composition would be different for raw red meat and raw chicken. Carbon dioxide content in the pre-mixed gas is important as most microorganisms are strongly affected by the presence of CO² to prevent spoilage. In the event of vacuum skin packaging, the vacuum cycle of the tray sealing machine is not followed by the gas flush cycle. A top sealing film (skin) seals over the meat cut onto the bottom of the tray surface. In this sterile environment, the meat products’
produce, temperature, maturity at harvest, mechanical injury and contamination. In the case of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables packed in a rigid PET tray, the modified atmosphere can be achieved. This is not necessarily by flushing the pack with a gas. While successful, it can be more expensive, but by sealing the tray with a permeable (breathable) top lidding film. This allows the fresh, living product to respire to effectively reduce the ripening or ageing process and in doing so, extending the product’s shelf-life. Micro-perforated lidding films (mostly laser perforated) are supplied by Zibo to seal and preserve a wide range of fresh fruit and veg products.
Local packaging supplier Zibo supplies three major components for MAP packaging:
• Tray sealing machines with vacuum and gas features for gas flush and vacuum skin packs • PET monolayer or PET/PE laminated trays, PP trays and cardboard tray for skin packaging • Range of top seal lidding films for practically every application and a selection of appropriate high barrier or micro-perforated (breathable) lidding film are available for specific food applications.
Benefits of MAP for packed fresh produce products • Flavour and aroma is preserved • Texture is maintained by reducing dehydration
• Appearance is maintained • More hygienic as safe aerobic conditions are maintained.
shelf-life is greatly extended.
FRESH FRUIT & VEGETABLES Fresh produce is living material and continue to respire after harvesting and processing. To extend a product’s shelf-life, the rate of aerobic respiration must be decreased. The slower the product's respiration → the longer a products’ shelf-life. Many factors influence respiration and shelf-life including the type of
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Food Review | February 2020
Vacuum skin packaging prevents the premature deterioration of packaged food products
