The Modified Atmosphere Packaging Technology Explained

In daily life, fresh food preservation is not an inconsiderable matter for both food retailers and housewives, especially in hot summer days when the temperatures are high and bacteria are rather active. Many retailers are aware that oxygen, moisture, and bacteria would cut the shelf life of food, but how can the influence of these factors be mitigated?

Modified atmosphere packaging could be an appropriate choice, which has been widely used in fresh food industries such as meat, produce, bakery, and ready meals. Because of its wide usage, a lot of packaging companies are exploring this technology and can provide bulk order or customisable services for fresh food retailers.

MTPak is one of them, and we offer customized packaging that can be applied to dry food as well as household occasions. This guide will inform you of the basic information on modified atmosphere packaging, and more importantly, how to customize eco-friendly packaging on MTPak for your food.

What Is Modified Atmosphere Packaging?

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a technology that changes the natural air inside a package to a controlled mixture of gases, so as to keep food fresh and extend shelf life. In natural air, oxygen accounts for about 21%, which speeds up oxidation and microbial growth.

The working principle of modified atmosphere packaging is very simple. Since elements such as oxygen increase the perishing process of food, then the key to preserving fresh food lies in removing oxygen. Modified atmosphere packaging works in the very way that it reduces oxygen and replaces it with gases like nitrogen (N₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, this does not mean removing all the oxygen, because different food types require different gas mixes. For example, meat often needs some oxygen to keep red color, while bakery items are often packed in nitrogen. All in all, modified atmosphere packaging is a type of packaging technology that changes normal air into mixed gases, the contents of which depend on types of food.

Apart from modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), there's controlled atmosphere packaging (CAP), both of which rely on gas control, but slight differences do exist. Controlled atmosphere packaging is often used in bulk storage or transport, while MAP is usually applied to sealed retail packs, more consumer-oriented. But the working principles are the same. No matter if it is MAP or CAP, this technology has become indispensable for food industry because it can preserve natural look, taste, and texture without artificial preservatives, widely used in fruits, vegetables, bread, beef, poultry, and seafood packaging.

What Elements Do Modified Atmosphere Packaging Include?

The most commonly used gases are nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Nitrogen is an inert filler gas, dsplaces oxygen, and prevents packages from collapsing. This is commonly used in snacks, bakery items, and coffee. Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, is a natural preservative because it is able to slow the growth of bacteria and mold. Food such as meat, fish, and dairy often require higher percentages of carbon dioxide.

Apart from the above two types of gases, other gases such as argon and carbon monoxide are also used in modified atmosphere packaging. Argon can protect aroma and flavor, so it is sometimes used for premium foods like wine or nuts. Cabon monoxide is very rarely used in some regions for meat color stabilization, and it is highly regulated.

In practice, these gases are not used alone. Instead, food packaging usually incorporates gas mixes. For instance, modified atmosphere packaging for fresh-cut vegetables often involves a high percentage of nitrogen and some carbon dioxide, while the packaging for red meat requires carbon dioxide plus a small amount of oxygen, and for bakeries, mostly nitrogen is enough.

What Are Typical Examples of Modified Atmosphere Packaging?

As is mentioned before, modified atmosphere packaging can be used in various food industries. Below are several examples which involve MAP.

Meat and Seafood

Red meat such as beef and lamb is packed with a mix of oxygen and carbon dioxide to keep the color. In poultry packaging, it is usually finished by lowering oxygen levels to contain bacterial growth. As to seafood, a high percentage of carbon dioxide is necessary in order to keep them fresh.

Fresh Produce

Obviously, leafy vegetables are prone to wilting if not preserved well. It is the same with fruits, especially cut fruits which are easily oxidized. In this case, MAP also plays an important role in preserving these fresh produce, often used for ready-to-eat packs.

Dairy and Bakery

MAP used for cheese often creates an environment that is rich in carbon dioxide, so as to inhibit mold growth. For bread, cakes, and pastries, things are not the same as the case in cheese packaging, which needs enough nitrogen to prevent staleness.

Convenience and Ready Meals

Modified atmosphere packaging is also widely used in ready meal fields. For instance, this type of packaging is ideal for retailers and food delivery services which sell pre-packed food such as sandwiches, wraps, and cooked meals. It not only brings convenience but also achieves it in a healthy and reliable way because no preservatives are included.

Specialty Products

This is not so commonly used compared with the above four occasions, but after all, MAP is sometimes needed for specialty products such as coffee, nuts, dried fruits, wine, and beverages. For coffee and wine, a bit of nitrogen is sometimes inserted to protect flavor. In terms of nuts and dried fruits, MAP is able to maintain crunch.

Why Could MTPak Help You with MAP Food Packaging?

Covering a Wide Range of Markets

First and foremost, MTPak specializes in packaging markets and provides customizable MAP packaging services. We cover a wide range of markets, including but not limited to pet food, dry food, beverages, and coffee, and because of long-term business application in different markets, we've accumulated abundant experience to make our services better fit customers' needs. More importantly, we enable clients to customize their branded packaging. With our high-quality printing and coating techniques, you don't have to worry about if the packaging will be easily broken or fail to work out.

Focusing on Sustainability and Safety

Besides, we focus on sustainability and put safety as top priority. On MTPak, you can choose standard packaging and eco packaging. We offer "stand up pouch", which is suitable for dry food and nut preservation or small amount sale. If you want to reduce the damage to nature, then there are eco-friendly choices available, which are made of materials such as rice paper and kraft paper. Packaging made of such materials is not only environmental friendly but also safe for food delivery and preservation.

Offering Branding and Design Opportunities

We present possibilities in the branding and design sector. No matter if you want to print company logos, use specific colors, or try to convey the mission or tell the product stories through packaging, MTPak can help you with that. In this case, MAP technology not only helps preserve the food but also serves as a marketing tool on store shelves.

Conclusion

As is explained in previous sections, the modified atmosphere packaging is a widely used technology for food preservation. It often replaces oxygen with carbon dioxide or nitrogen, so as to create an environment which is suitable for food preservation. This type of technology can be applied in different food industries, and examples may include meat, vegetables, fruits, dairy, bakery, and others. However, compared with wholesale MAP, customisable MAP is of higher quality and is a good way to make your products look more special. Here in MTPak, you can customize the packaging you want for your products. It is not just about custom packaging, but also about quality and sustainability.

If you are interested in customizing modified atmosphere packaging and want to know more information, please contact us for free samples and professional consultation.

Email：account@mtpak.com 

Website：https://mtpak.com/contact-mtpak