Method of marking and packaging food

• US 20040185154A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anthony J.M. Garwood
• Original Assignee: Anthony J.M. Garwood
• Inventors: Garwood, Anthony J.M.
• Application Number:
  US10/769,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185154A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/392
• 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: B65B 25/067 combined with its conservation
• 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 77/2024 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 method for a product seller to distribute a product to a product buyer, comprising:

a product seller applying an RFID tag, or a one dimensional marking, or a two dimensional marking, to a container having a product therein, wherein information related to the product is associated with the RFID tag, or the one dimensional marking or the two dimensional marking, and shipping said container to a product buyer, wherein the product buyer can receive said container and can retrieve the information associated with the RFID tag, or the one dimensional marking, or the two dimensional marking.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said container is a package.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said product is a food product for human consumption.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said container further comprises a plurality of individual packages, wherein said RFID tag, one dimensional marking, or two dimensional marking comprises information associated with each of the individual packages.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the individual packages are marked with an identifying marking or number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is stored on the RFID tag.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the buyer for said product from the information associated with the RFID tag, the one dimensional marking, or the two dimensional marking.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the product has exceeded a limited period outside of refrigeration from the information associated with the RFID tag, the one dimensional marking, or the two dimensional marking.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the shelf life of said product from the information associated with the RFID tag, the one dimensional marking, or the two dimensional marking.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising applying a label to a package, wherein said label indicates the shelf life of the product.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the product comprises beef, pork, lamb, poultry, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the beef has been tested for the presence of bacteria.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bacteria is E. coli.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the beef has been treated with a bactericidal agent and water.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the beef has been treated with a bactericidal agent and water to produce a treated beef product having a predetermined quantity of added water.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said container is at least occasionally monitored throughout said shipping.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said container is at least occasionally monitored throughout said shipping with a global positioning system.

18. A method for a product buyer to receive a product from a product seller, comprising:

a product buyer receiving a container with a product therein and retrieving information associated with an RFID tag, a one dimensional marking, or a two dimensional marking applied to the container by a product seller, wherein information related to the product is associated with the RFID tag, the one dimensional marking or the two dimensional marking.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said container is a package.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said product is a food product for human consumption.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said information is used by the buyer to inventory said product.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said information is used by the buyer to manage said product.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said information is used by the buyer in computing a selling price for said product.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the information is stored on the RFID tag.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining whether the product has exceeded a limited period outside of refrigeration from the information associated with the RFID tag, the one dimensional marking, or the two dimensional marking.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining the shelf life of said product from the information associated with the RFID tag, the one dimensional marking, or the two dimensional marking.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein said container is at least occasionally monitored throughout said shipping.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein said container is at least occasionally monitored throughout said shipping with a global positioning system.