Modified atmosphere packaging - an ideal food preservation technique.

摘要

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a gracious, cheap and convenient packaging system that has the capacity to preserve natural quality of food commodity in addition to extend the storage life, if it is used properly. MAP has been a proven technology to meet the consumer's demand for more natural and fresh foods, which is increasing day by day. This method is advantageous, as strict regulations are enforced on the use of other chemical preservation methods. It is also commercially successful for preserving certain fresh fruits and vegetables. MAP is a dynamic system where respiration of the packaged product and gas permeation through the packaging film takes place simultaneously. At equilibrium, the respiration rate of the commodity equals the permeation rate of the packaging film and it retains the desired atmosphere. The attainment of the equilibrium state depends on proper designing of MAP. This technique can be integrated with active or interactive packaging to improve the package atmosphere to achieve superior product quality and safety. Of late, the packaging films of required gas transmission properties are available. Also to achieve the desired film characteristics for MAP different plastic films are either laminated or co-extruded for its successful operation. Although an increasing choice of packaging materials is available to the MAP industry, most packs are still constructed from polyvinyl chloride, polyproylene, polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate.