South African industrial gas specialist Air Products uses its expertise in specialty gases to increase the shelf life for various food products by utilising modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), which involves changing gas within the food packaging.
The company uses three main gases for MAP, Freshline Carbon Dioxide (CO2, Freshline Nitrogen (N2), and Freshline Oxygen (O2).
The CO2 inhibits aerobic growth and prevents mould from forming, the N2 displaces oxygen and is also used as a filler gas to prevent the packaging from collapsing, and oxygen, although not commonly used, is deemed necessary for the meat packaging industry as it encourages the ‘correct’ pigment colour of packaged meat.
Depending on the chemical and physical properties of the food being packaged, single gas or a mixture of gases can be used.
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