Modifield atmosphere package for cut of raw meat
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A modified atmosphere package, comprising:
- an inner container comprised of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen, said inner container being configured and sized to fully enclose a retail cut of raw meat;
an outer container comprised of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen, said outer container enclosing said inner container, said inner container being removable from at least a portion of said outer container without destroying said inner container, said inner container being differently shaped than said outer container, said outer container being substantially free of oxygen therein in response to said outer container being flushed with one or more gases creating a modified atmosphere within said outer container; and
an oxygen scavenger activated with an activating agent and positioned external to said inner container to substantially absorb residual oxygen within the modified atmosphere package.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modified atmosphere packaging system and method creates a modified atmosphere in a package including an inner container and an outer container. The inner container is composed at least partially of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen, while the outer container is composed of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen. After a food product such as raw meat is placed within the inner container, the inner container is flushed with a desired mixture of gases to substantially remove oxygen from the inner container. The flushed inner container is then sealed and inserted into the outer container without sealing the outer container. Next, the outer container is flushed with the desired mixture of gases to substantially remove oxygen from the outer container. After flushing the outer container, the outer container is sealed. An oxygen scavenger is provided in the package to substantially absorb any residual oxygen within the package.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A modified atmosphere package, comprising:
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an inner container comprised of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen, said inner container being configured and sized to fully enclose a retail cut of raw meat; an outer container comprised of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen, said outer container enclosing said inner container, said inner container being removable from at least a portion of said outer container without destroying said inner container, said inner container being differently shaped than said outer container, said outer container being substantially free of oxygen therein in response to said outer container being flushed with one or more gases creating a modified atmosphere within said outer container; and an oxygen scavenger activated with an activating agent and positioned external to said inner container to substantially absorb residual oxygen within the modified atmosphere package. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of creating a modified atmosphere in a package including an inner container and an outer container, said inner container being comprised of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen, said outer container being comprised of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen, said method comprising the steps of:
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placing a retail cut of raw meat within said inner container; sealing said inner container; inserting said inner container into said outer container without sealing said outer container, said inner container being removable from at least a portion of said outer container without destroying said inner container and being differently shaped than said outer container; substantially removing oxygen from said outer container, without evacuating said outer container, by flushing said outer container with one or more gases; sealing said outer container; providing an oxygen scavenger in the package external to said inner container to substantially absorb residual oxygen within the package; and activating said oxygen scavenger with an activating agent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of manufacturing a modified atmosphere package, said method comprising the steps of:
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supplying an inner container comprised of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen; placing a retail cut of raw meat within said inner container; sealing said inner container; supplying an outer container comprised of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen; inserting said inner container into said outer container without sealing said outer container, said inner container being removable from at least a portion of said outer container without destroying said inner container and being differently shaped than said outer container; substantially removing oxygen from said outer container, without evacuating said outer container, by flushing said outer container with one or more gases; sealing said outer container; supplying an oxygen scavenger in the package external to said inner container to absorb residual oxygen within the package; and activating said oxygen scavenger with an activating agent. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A modified atmosphere packaging system for creating a modified atmosphere in a package including an inner container, an outer container, and an oxygen scavenger, said inner container being comprised of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen, said inner container being configured and sized to fully enclose a retail cut of raw meat, said outer container being comprised of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen, said oxygen scavenger being activated with an activating agent and positioned external to said inner container to substantially absorb residual oxygen within the package, said system comprising:
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means for sealing said inner container with said retail cut of raw meat enclosed therein; means, disposed downstream from said means for sealing said inner container, for inserting said sealed inner container into said outer container without sealing said outer container, said inner container being removable from at least a portion of said outer container without destroying said inner container and being differently shaped than said outer container; means, disposed downstream from said means for inserting said sealed inner container, for substantially removing oxygen from said outer container, without evacuating said outer container, by flushing said outer container with one or more gases; and means, disposed downstream from said means for substantially removing oxygen from said outer container, for sealing said outer container. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification