Food packaging providing extended shelf-life

Abstract

Packaging to increase the shelf-life of food products, particularly fresh meat and produce products such as fresh fruit. The packaging of the present disclosure includes a conventional tray pack, a separate carrier for one or more preservatives, and a wrapping material. In an exemplary embodiment the separate carrier is an inert sheet coated or impregnated with one or more naturally occurring preservative(s). In another embodiment, the separate carrier is a removable food product tray. In a further embodiment, the carrier is in the form of both an inert sheet and a product tray in the packaging. Optionally an absorbent food sheet or pad can be included. Additionally, a carrier having the preservative(s) is disclosed that may be sold separately as a food packaging insert for use in the aforementioned packaging. A product tray is also disclosed that may be offered and sold separately for use in said packaging, optionally coated with the one or more perservative(s).

1 . Packaging for a food product, comprising: 
 a tray pack;    a separate carrier for one or more preservatives for the food product; and    a packaging overwrap material.    
   
   
       2 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a sheet of material coated or impregnated with the one or more preservatives, the material being non-reactive with the one or more preservatives.  
   
   
       3 . The packaging of  claim 2 , wherein the sheet of material is selected from the group of polystyrene, blown polyvinyl chloride, molded pulp and polypropylene.  
   
   
       4 . The packaging of  claim 2 , wherein the preservatives are selected from naturally occurring food preservatives that serve to maintain a pH level of a food product to be packaged in the packaging at or below 6.9.  
   
   
       5 . The packaging of  claim 4 , wherein the preservatives are selected from naturally occurring acids.  
   
   
       6 . The packaging of  claim 5 , wherein the preservatives are selected from one or more of citric acid, acetic acid, salts thereof, anhydride forms thereof, mixtures of such acids, salts and anhydride forms, and phosphoric acetate.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the separate carrier is in the form of a separate and removable food product tray.  
   
   
       8 . The packaging of  claim 7 , wherein the product tray has a perforated food product carrying surface and spacing members for separating the food product carrying surface from the tray pack.  
   
   
       9 . The packaging of  claim 1 , further including an absorbent sheet or pad for absorbing liquid exuding from the food product.  
   
   
       10 . The packaging of  claim 2 , further including a food product tray having a perforated food product carrying surface and spacing members for separating the food product carrying surface from the tray pack.  
   
   
       11 . The packaging of  claim 10 , further including an absorbent sheet or pad for absorbing liquid exuding from the food product.  
   
   
       12 . A carrier for one or more food preservatives for use as an insert to food packaging including a food product, the carrier comprising a sheet of material having the one or more food preservatives, the material being non-reactive to the one or more preservatives, the one or more preservatives including a naturally occurring food preservative that serves to maintain the pH level of a food product packaged therein at or below 6.9.  
   
   
       13 . The carrier of  claim 12 , wherein the naturally occurring food preservative is selected from naturally occurring acids.  
   
   
       14 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein the naturally occurring food preservative is selected from one or more of citric acid, acetic acid, salts thereof, anhydride forms thereof, mixtures of such acids, salts and anhydride forms, and phosphoric acetate.  
   
   
       15 . A food product tray for use in food packaging, the food product tray having a perforated food product carrying surface and spacing members for separating the food product carrying surface from the tray pack.  
   
   
       16 . The food product tray of  claim 14 , wherein the food product carrying surface has a concave shape for retaining the food product.  
   
   
       17 . The food product tray of  claim 15 , further coated or impregnated with one or more preservatives.  
   
   
       18 . The food product tray of  claim 17 , including at least one preservative that is a naturally occurring food preservative that serves to maintain a pH level of the food product at or below 6.9.  
   
   
       19 . The food product tray of  claim 18 , wherein the preservatives are selected from naturally occurring acids.  
   
   
       20 . The food product tray of  claim 19 , wherein the preservatives are selected from one or more of citric acid, acetic acid, salts thereof, anhydride forms thereof, mixtures of such acids, salts and anhydride forms, and phosphoric acetate.