Modified atmosphere package for cut of raw meat
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A modified atmosphere package, comprising:
- a first package configured and sized to substantially totally enclose a retail cut of raw meat and including a non-barrier portion substantially permeable to oxygen;
a second package covering said first package and being substantially impermeable to oxygen, said second package creating a pocket between said first package and said second package, said pocket being substantially free of oxygen solely in response to said pocket being flushed with one or more gases creating a modified atmosphere within said pocket; and
an oxygen scavenger positioned external to said first package to substantially absorb residual oxygen within said pocket, said oxygen scavenger being activated with an oxygen uptake accelerator.
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Abstract
A modified atmosphere packaging method creates a modified atmosphere in a package including an inner package and an outer package. The inner package is composed at least partially of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen, while the outer package is composed of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen. After a food product such as raw meat is placed within the inner package, the inner package is flushed with a desired mixture of gases to substantially remove oxygen from the inner package. The flushed inner package is then sealed and inserted into the outer package without sealing the outer package. Next, the outer package is flushed with the desired mixture of gases to substantially remove oxygen from the outer package. After flushing the outer package, the outer package is sealed. An oxygen scavenger is provided in the package to substantially absorb any residual oxygen within the package. The oxygen scavenger is activated with an oxygen uptake accelerator to increase the rate at which the residual oxygen is absorbed.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A modified atmosphere package, comprising:
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a first package configured and sized to substantially totally enclose a retail cut of raw meat and including a non-barrier portion substantially permeable to oxygen; a second package covering said first package and being substantially impermeable to oxygen, said second package creating a pocket between said first package and said second package, said pocket being substantially free of oxygen solely in response to said pocket being flushed with one or more gases creating a modified atmosphere within said pocket; and an oxygen scavenger positioned external to said first package to substantially absorb residual oxygen within said pocket, said oxygen scavenger being activated with an oxygen uptake accelerator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A modified atmosphere package, comprising:
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first package means for substantially totally enclosing a retail cut of raw meat, said first package means including a non-barrier portion substantially permeable to oxygen; second package means for covering said first package means, said second package means being substantially impermeable to oxygen, said second package means creating a pocket between said first package means and said second package means, said pocket being substantially free of oxygen solely in response to being flushed with one or more gases creating a modified atmosphere within said pocket; oxygen scavenging means for scavenging any residual oxygen within said pocket, said oxygen scavenging means being positioned external to said first package means; and means for activating said oxygen scavenging means.
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10. A method of manufacturing a modified atmosphere package, said method comprising the steps of:
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supplying a first package including a non-barrier portion substantially permeable to oxygen; placing a retail cut of raw meat within said first package; sealing said first package; supplying a second package substantially impermeable to oxygen; covering said first package with said second package without sealing said second package so as to create a pocket between said first package and said second package; substantially removing oxygen from said pocket solely by flushing said pocket with one or more gases; supplying an oxygen scavenger positioned external to said first package to absorb residual oxygen within the pocket; activating said oxygen scavenger with an oxygen scavenger accelerator; and sealing said second package. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification