OXYGEN, WATER VAPOR, AND CARBON DIOXIDE ABSORPTION IN A SINGLE USE CONTAINER

1 . An extended shelf life single portion package comprising a container having therein a material for mammal ingestion that degrades by exposure to oxygen, water vapor, or carbon dioxide, an absorber selected from at least one of a carbon dioxide absorber, water vapor absorber, and oxygen scavenger wherein the container is substantially impervious to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

2 . The package of claim 1 , wherein is the container holds a carbon dioxide absorbent.

3 . The package of claim 2 , wherein carbon dioxide absorbent produces water when absorbing carbon dioxide.

4 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the oxygen scavenger is present in the container and comprises a transition metal that is elemental iron and the oxygen scavenger is water activated.

5 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the material for mammal ingestion comprises a food product selected from the group consisting of instant coffee, instant tea, cocoa, and dry milk products.

6 . The package of claim 4 , wherein the rate of absorption of oxygen by the scavenger is many times that of the food product.

7 . The package of claim 1 , wherein oxygen scavenger is present in the container.

8 . The package of claim 7 , wherein the mammal is human.

9 . The package of claim 8 , wherein the oxygen scavenger comprises sodium chloride.

10 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the container holds instant coffee, instant tea, or cocoa.

11 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises an oxygen impermeable lid.

12 . The package of claim 2 , wherein the container has therein a carbon dioxide absorbent comprising calcium hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide.

13 . The package of claim 12 , wherein the container has therein an oxygen scavenger that contains calcium oxide or magnesium oxide powder and water in silica gel that react to produce calcium hydroxide.

14 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the container has a lid and an oxygen scavenger is attached to the lid of the container.

15 . The package of claim 1 , wherein an oxygen scavenger is attached to the walls of the container.

16 . The package of claim 1 , wherein an oxygen scavenger is contained in a polymer film or strip.

17 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the absorber is formulated with polymer as a disc, tablet or capsule.

18 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the container has an absorber in a sachet that is permeable to oxygen and impervious to liquid water.

19 . The package of claim 17 , wherein the absorber is in the shape of a washer on the bottom of the container.

20 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the container holds a water vapor absorber.

21 . The package of claim 20 , wherein the absorber is a carbon dioxide absorber.

22 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the mammal ingestible product is selected from the group consisting of instant coffee, instant tea, cocoa, and milk products.

23 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the container does not have a filter.

24 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the container has a carrier for the absorber that is concave in shape when viewed from the top of the package.

25 . The package of claim 24 , wherein the carrier for the absorber comprises a polymer containing oxygen scavenger particles.

26 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the absorber is in a carrier that is convex as viewed from the top of the container and rests on the bottom of the container.

27 . The package of claim 2 , wherein the carbon dioxide absorbent comprises calcium hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide.

28 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the absorber is an oxygen scavenger comprising calcium oxide or magnesium oxide powder and water in silica gel that react to produce calcium hydroxide.

29 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the absorber is in a carrier that comprises a cup and has an oxygen scavenger in the cup.

30 . The package of claim 29 , wherein the oxygen scavenger comprises absorbent particles and the cup has an oxygen permeable cover.

31 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the absorber is an oxygen scavenger in a sachet that is permeable to oxygen and impervious to liquid water.

32 . The package of claim 21 , wherein the water absorber is silica gel or molecular sieve.

33 . The package of claim 26 , wherein the carrier comprises a blend of polymer and water absorber.

34 . The package of claim 33 , wherein the water absorber is selected from the group of calcium oxide, silica gel, and molecular sieve.

35 . The package of claim 34 , wherein the convex carrier has an opening in the center and foraminous sides.