Modified atmosphere packaging for seafood

Abstract

A method of packaging live seafood comprises the steps providing a sealable container placing the live seafood in the container and replacing the atmospheric gas in the container with a gas mixture comprising CO 2 and O 2 content of at least 50% and a CO 2 content of at least 20%.

1 . A method of packaging live seafood comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sealable container,    placing said live seafood in said container, and    replacing the atmospheric gas in said container with a gas mixture comprising CO 2  and O 2 , with an O 2  content of at least 50%, and a CO 2  content of at least 20%.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sealable container includes at least one layer made from flexible film.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said container is made from two sheets of flexible film sealable around their edges to provide an interior space between said two sheets.  
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said container comprises a plastic tray having an interior volume and an upper peripheral edge, and a sheet of flexible sealable film sealed to the upper edge of said tray.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said flexible film is a multi-layer high barrier film.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said gas mixture comprises at least 75% O 2 .  
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said gas mixture comprises about 80% O 2 .  
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the balance of gas in said gas mixture, apart from O 2 , is CO 2 .  
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  including the further steps of rinsing said live seafood with CIO 2  before placing same in said packaging.  
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said live seafood is a bivalve mollusk selected from the group consisting of clams, mussels and oysters.  
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said live seafood is mussels.  
   
   
       12 . A package produced by the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       13 . A packaged seafood product comprising a package produced by the method of  claim 1  enclosing a live seafood product selected from the group consisting of clams, oysters and mussels.  
   
   
       14 . The package as claimed in  claim 12  including a rinse aliquot of CIO 2  for application on the seafood organism before placing said organism in said package.  
   
   
       15 . A packaged seafood product comprising: 
 a sealable container for holding a live seafood organism,    an internal container atmosphere of a gas mixture comprising CO 2  and O 2 , with an O 2  content of at least 50%, and a CO 2  content of at least 20%, and    a live seafood product.    
   
   
       16 . The packaged seafood product as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said sealable container includes at least one layer made from flexible film.  
   
   
       17 . The packaged seafood product as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said container is made from two sheets of flexible film sealable around their edges to provide an interior space between said two sheets.  
   
   
       18 . The packaged seafood product as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said container comprises a plastic tray having an interior volume and an upper peripheral edge, and a sheet of flexible sealable film sealed to the upper edge of said tray.  
   
   
       19 . The packaged seafood product as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said gas mixture comprises at least 75% O 2 .  
   
   
       20 . The packaged seafood product as claimed in  claim 15  including the further steps of rinsing said live seafood with CIO 2  before placing same in said packaging.