SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTENDING THE SHELF LIFE OF A PACKAGE CONTAINING A FRESH FOOD PRODUCT

1 . A system for packaging a fresh food product, the system comprising:

a plurality of packages having a fresh food product sealed therein, the packages comprising an oxygen permeable film, the oxygen permeable film having an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of at least 10,000 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. and 0% relative humidity (RH) as measured in accordance with ASTM D3985;

a master pouch having an interior space in which the plurality of packages are enclosed, the master pouch comprised of a film having an oxygen barrier layer such that the OTR of the film of the master pouch is less than 20 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. and 0% RH as measured in accordance with ASTM D3985; and

a modified atmosphere in the interior space of the master pouch comprising carbon dioxide and having an oxygen concentration that is less than 0.1% by volume.

2 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein the fresh food product comprises fish.

3 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , further comprising an oxygen scavenging composition in fluid communication with the modified atmosphere of the master pouch.

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein the modified atmosphere comprises nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, or mixtures thereof.

7 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein a time temperature indicator is disposed in the interior space of the master pouch.

8 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein the oxygen permeable film has an OTR of at least 20,000 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. and 0% RH.

9 . (canceled)

10 . (canceled)

11 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein the fresh food product, when stored at a temperature of −1.5° C. to 1° C. has a total shelf life of at least 28 days.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein the oxygen permeable film is not perforated.

14 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein the modified atmosphere in the interior space of the master pouch comprises at least 99.5% by volume carbon dioxide.

15 . (canceled)

16 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein the modified atmosphere in the interior space of the master pouch comprises less than 0.4% by volume carbon monoxide.

17 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein the oxygen permeable film is a multilayer film comprising

a. a sealant layer comprising a polymer blend comprising up to 98% by weight of linear low density polyethylene/hexene copolymer;

b. a core layer comprising a very low density polyethylene/octene copolymer; and

c. an outer abuse layer comprising a blend of high density polyethylene 98% by weight, and low density polyethylene with silica.

18 . (canceled)

19 . (canceled)

20 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 17 wherein the sealant layer, the outer abuse layer or both the sealant layer and the outer abuse layer further comprises between 1-10% low density polyethylene blended with silica.

21 . (canceled)

22 . (canceled)

23 . (canceled)

24 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 17 wherein the blend of the outer abuse layer comprises up to 95% by weight of high density polyethylene.

25 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of packages comprises a bottom film web.

26 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 25 wherein the bottom film web is a thermoformed tray.

27 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 26 wherein the thermoformed tray has an OTR of at least 10,000 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. and 0% RH as measured in accordance with ASTM D3985.

28 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 25 wherein the bottom film web comprises:

a. a first layer comprising a blend of ethylene vinyl acetate and polybutylene;

b. a second layer comprising a linear low density polyethylene;

c. a third layer comprising a linear low density polyethylene;

d. a fourth layer comprising an ethylene vinyl alcohol;

e. a fifth comprising a linear low density polyethylene;

f. a sixth layer comprising a blend of blend of linear low density polyethylene and low density polyethylene; and

g. a seventh layer comprising a semi-rigid PVC.

29 . (canceled)

30 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 1 wherein the master pouch is made from a multilayer film.

31 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 30 wherein the multilayer film of the master pouch is an oriented film.

32 . (canceled)

33 . (canceled)

34 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 30 wherein the multilayer film of the master pouch comprises:

a. a sealant layer comprising a blend very low density polyethylene/octene copolymer and a linear low density polyethylene;

b. a core layer comprising an ethylene/butyl acrylate copolymer; and

c. an outer layer comprising a blend of a very low density polyethylene, a low density polyethylene/octene copolymer and a blend of a fluoropolymer blended in linear low density polyethylene.

35 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 34 wherein the sealant layer of the multilayer film of the master pouch comprises a blend of 60-90%, by weight of very low density polyethylene/octene copolymer and 10-40%, by weight of a linear low density polyethylene.

36 . (canceled)

37 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 34 wherein the outer layer of the multilayer film of the master pouch comprises a blend of 75-95% by weight of a very low density polyethylene, 10-20% by weight of a low density polyethylene/octene copolymer and a blend of a 0.1-2.0% by weight of a fluoropolymer blended in linear low density polyethylene.

38 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 30 wherein the multilayer film of the master pouch comprises:

a. a first layer comprising a blend of medium density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, and an ethylene copolymer;

b. a second layer comprising a linear low density polyethylene;

c. a third layer comprising a blend of linear low density polyethylene and medium density polyethylene; and

d. a fourth layer comprising a blend of medium density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, and an ethylene copolymer.

39 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 30 wherein the multilayer film of the master pouch has an OTR of at least 17,000 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. at 0% relative humidity RH as measured in accordance with ASTM D3985.

40 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 30 wherein the multilayer film of the master pouch comprises:

a. a first layer which is a sealant layer comprising a linear low density polyethylene, a very low density polyethylene or blends thereof;

b. a second layer comprising a low density polyethylene

c. a third layer comprising an oxygen barrier layer;

d. a fourth layer comprising a linear low density polyethylene, a low density polyethylene or bends thereof; and

e. a fifth layer comprising a low density polyethylene.

41 . The system for packaging a fresh food product according to claim 40 wherein the third layer of the multilayer film of the master pouch comprises polyvinylidene chloride methyl acrylate.

42 . A method of packaging a fresh food product comprising:

sealing a fresh food product within a package, the package comprising an oxygen permeable film having an OTR of at least 10,000 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. at 0% relative humidity RH as measured in accordance with ASTM D3985;

introducing a plurality of sealed packages within a master pouch, the master pouch comprising a film having an oxygen barrier layer such that the OTR of the film of the master pouch is less than 20 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. at 0% RH as measured in accordance with ASTM 3985, the master pouch having an interior space;

introducing a modified atmosphere into the interior space of the master pouch, the modified atmosphere predominately comprising carbon dioxide;

sealing the master pouch to enclose the plurality of the sealed packages therein; and

reducing residual oxygen concentration in the interior space of the master pouch to 0.1% or less by volume within 24 hours of sealing the master pouch.

43 . (canceled)

44 . (canceled)

45 . (canceled)

46 . (canceled)

47 . (canceled)

48 . (canceled)

49 . (canceled)

50 . (canceled)

51 . A packaged fresh food product comprising:

a plurality of packages having a fresh food product sealed therein, the packages comprising an oxygen permeable film, the oxygen permeable film having an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of at least 10,000 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. and 0% relative humidity (RH) as measured in accordance with ASTM D3985;

a master pouch having an interior space in which the plurality of packages are enclosed, the master pouch comprised of a film having an oxygen barrier layer such that the OTR of the film of the master pouch is less than 20 cc(STP)/m 2 /day/1 atm at 23° C. and 0% RH as measured in accordance with ASTM D3985; and

a modified atmosphere in the interior space of the master pouch comprising carbon dioxide and having an oxygen concentration that is less than 0.1% by volume.

52 . (canceled)

53 . (canceled)

54 . The packaged fresh food product of claim 51 , wherein the fresh food product is salmon and the salmon has a Hunter (L+b)/a value of less than 3.0 one day after being removed from cold storage.

55 . The packaged fresh food product of claim 51 , wherein the fresh food product is salmon and the salmon has a Hunter (L+b)/a value of less than 3.0 three days after being removed from cold storage.

56 . (canceled)

57 . (canceled)

58 . (canceled)

59 . (canceled)

60 . (canceled)

61 . (canceled)

62 . (canceled)

63 . (canceled)

64 . (canceled)

65 . (canceled)

66 . (canceled)

67 . (canceled)