Myoglobin blooming agent containing shrink films, packages and methods for packaging

1. A method of manufacturing a vacuum package of fresh meat comprising:

a) supplying a container comprising a heat shrinkable film having a transparent portion and layer comprising a myoglobin blooming agent being present at the surface of the film in an amount insufficient to effectively cure the entire fresh meat and wherein the film is substantially impermeable to oxygen;

b) placing a retail cut of fresh meat within the container;

c) removing the atmosphere within the container;

d) causing the transparent portion of the film to make direct contact with at least a portion of the meat surface;

e) hermetically sealing the container to enclose the fresh meat and prevent contact of oxygen from outside the container therewith;

f) shrinking the film to provide a compact package having a sufficiently reduced internal oxygen level to promote a meat surface favoring deoxymyoglobin or metmyoglobin and the corresponding purple and brown colorations associated therewith over formation of oxymyoglobin; and

g) storing the package under refrigeration conditions for a sufficient time to permit the reducing activity of the enclosed meat to favor nitroxymyoglobin formation on the meat surface to an extent whereby a corresponding red color associated therewith is formed to produce a visibly red meat surface.

2. A method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein the film has an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 310 cm 3 /m 2 /24 hours measured at 0% relative humidity and 23° C.

3. A method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein the myoglobin blooming agent is selected from the group consisting of: Fremy's salt, nitrate salts having the formula (MNO 3 ) and nitrite salts (MNO 2 ), where M is a counter-ion (M+) selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, protonated primary, secondary, tertiary amines, quaternary amines, and ammonium.

4. A method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein the food contact layer comprises a heat sealable polymer selected from the group of polyolefin, polyethylene, VLDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE, ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers, polypropylene, polybutylene, and ionomer.

5. A method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein the myoglobin blooming agent containing layer further comprises at least one of an antioxidant, a slip agent, an antiblock agent, a colorant, a flavorant, an odorant, an organoleptic agent, a coefficient of friction modifying agent, a lubricant, a surfactant, an encapsulating agent, an oxygen scavenger, a pH modifying agent, a film forming agent, an emulsifier, a polyphosphate, a humectant, a drying agent, an antimicrobial agent, a chelating agent, a binder, a starch, a polysaccharide or a combination thereof.

6. A method, as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fresh meat is selected from the group consisting of: beef, veal, pork, mutton, lamb, poultry, chicken, turkey, duck, goose, game, fish, and seafood.