Packages and methods for processing food products

• US 20030185948A1
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SafeFresh Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: SafeFresh Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Garwood, Anthony J.M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,205,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/392
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/10 Coating with a protective layer; Compositions or apparatus therefor A23B4/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/16 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/00 Meat products; Meat meal; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/60 Comminuted or emulsified meat products, e.g. sausages; Reformed meat from comminuted meat product
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3409 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/10 Preserving against microbes
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/11 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/067 combined with its conservation
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/028 closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/062 the movable parts being attached or integral and displaceable into a position overlying the top of the container, e.g. bails, corner plates covers B65D21/064
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/066 the movable parts being supports or feet, e.g. retractable feet, pivotable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2008 the container flange being crimped over the cover
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2024 the cover being welded or adhered to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/2076 in an at least partially rigid container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/267 the absorber being in sheet form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/28 Applications of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants

Abstract

Processing and packaging for perishable goods, such as beef, in a conduit wherein oxygen is substantially excluded and suitable gases such as carbon dioxide are provided at a suitable pressure and in such a manner as to increase the quantity of the gases dissolved in the perishable goods to extend the shelf life of the goods and decontaminate the goods.

Claims

1. A package for edible substances, comprising:

a tray having a flange that extends from an upper periphery of the tray, the tray having sidewalls extending between the flange and the tray base, an inner region of the tray being defined by the sidewalls and the tray base, the tray having an aperture adjacent the flange that provides open fluid communication between the inner region and the atmosphere external to the tray after a first layer of material is sealed to the flange, said aperture allowing selected gases to be freely introduced into said tray inner region and air to be evacuated therefrom.

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is provided at the end of a recess extending downwardly from the flange into the inner region of the tray, the recess having a concave surface that restricts flow of liquid from the inner region across it, thereby assisting in retaining the liquid in the inner region and minimizing the flow of liquid through the aperture.

3. The package according to claim 1, wherein the flange is hinged along a first and second side of the tray to form a flap on both the first and second sides, wherein each flap is movable from a first extended position to a second folded position, each flap having a concave dimple that is aligned with the aperture when the flap is in the second folded position, the dimple being sufficiently flexible to reverse its concavity and close the aperture when pressed.

4. The package according to claim 1, further comprising:

an edible substance provided in the tray and a first layer of material sealed to the flange along the entire periphery of the tray, and a label coupled to the first layer of material, the label containing a sensor material that indicates the presence of E. coli in the edible substance.

5. The package of claim 1, further comprising:

an edible substance in said tray;

a layer of material sealed to said tray; and

a selected gas in said inner region contacting said edible substance, said combination of the tray web layer of material and a selected gas comprising a food package.

6. The package of claim 5, wherein a plurality of said food packages are placed in a master container, said master container being filled with a selected gas and sealed to form a shipping package.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein said trays each have a support portion and a foot portion thereon, said food packages being stackable by positioning a foot portion on a support portion so that the base of one tray of a food package is separated from the edible substance in the next lower one of said food packages.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein said tray is configured and arranged so that when stacked the base of one tray is separated from the edible substance in the next lower one of said trays.

9. The package of claim 1, wherein said selected gas is an inert gas.

10. A method for storing and shipping edible food comprising:

(a) placing food in a package, said package having an aperture therein for the ingress and egress of gas;

(b) evacuating air from said package and introducing a selected gas into said package;

(c) placing a plurality of said packages in a master container;

(d) introducing a selected gas into said master container; and

(e) closing said master container so as to prevent selected gas from escaping.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

stacking said packages in said master container so as to reduce the pressure applied by the base of one package on the food in a next lower package.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a support portion and a foot portion on each package; and

stacking said packages in said master container so that the foot portion of one package contacts the support portion of the next lower package in a stack.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said food is placed in a package by:

placing the food in a tray having an upper flange and an aperture therein; and

sealing a layer of material to said flange while leaving said aperture open.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

associating an E. coli detector with said package.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

associating an E. coli detector with each of said packages.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

associating an RFID tag with said master container; and

applying information to said RFID tag specific to at least one of the packages in the master container.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

placing said master container in a cardboard carton.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

placing said master container in a reusable crate or container.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

associating an RFID tag with said master container; and

applying information to said RFID tag specific to the food in each of said packages.

20. A container, comprising:

at least one tray positioned within the container, an aperture in at least one tray allowing air to be evacuated from the inner region of the tray and at least one selected gas to be introduced into the inner region of the tray when the container is evacuated and flushed with at least one selected gas, said tray having a flange that extends from an upper periphery of the tray, the tray having sidewalls extending between the flange and the tray base, an inner region of the tray being defined by the sidewalls and the tray base, the tray having an aperture adjacent the flange that provides open fluid communication between the inner region and the atmosphere external to the tray after a first layer of material is sealed to the flange, said aperture allowing selected gases to be freely introduced into said tray inner region and air to be evacuated therefrom.