Application of modified atmosphere packaging with new concepts for respiring foods

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a shelf-life enhancing method which is growing rapidly on an international scale. The correct gas mixture and film in MAP can maintain high quality with extended shelf life. However, the initial gas composition in the package headspace often changes as a result of the activity of the respiring product, the nature of the package, or the environmental conditions. In the new MAP era, it is necessary to show that MAP does not only deal with gas mixtures and films. The new thought is to incorporate new packaging concepts such as active and intelligent packaging technologies with MAP in order to monitor gas change, storage temperature, quality of packaged product, and maintain the initial gas level during the whole storage time. Indicators or sensors in the form of a package label or printed on packaging films can monitor changes in the gas composition, storage temperature and quality of the product (smart packaging concept). Sensors adapted in the MA package could detect gas levels (smart packaging concept) and also the sensor could release gas to compensate for gas losses in the package (active packaging concept). Thus, the initial gas mixture could be maintained in the MA applied package during the storage time. In addition, gas indicators such as oxygen and carbon dioxide indicators could be used to monitor maturity stage of fruits based on the gas change in the package. Another application of these indicators is to determine package leakage which not only causes change in internal atmosphere but also microbial contamination from the environment. The use of intelligent indicators (time-temperature indicators, gas and freshness indicators) and active packaging technologies (ethylene and moisture absorbers) in conjunction with MAP is discussed in the paper. MAP combined with active and intelligent packaging concepts will provide a means of monitoring the quality and safety of the respiring products. -

Keywords: modified atmosphere packaging, intelligent packaging, active packaging, new packaging technologies and respiring foods