Packaged Stabilized Foodstuff

Abstract

A method of packaging and stabilizing a foodstuff comprising the steps of forming a package comprising a peelable seal in a region of the package and filling the package with the foodstuff; followed by treating the package at ultra high pressure to stabilize the foodstuff in the package without rupturing the peelable seal. Also provided are packaged sterilized foodstuffs obtainable by the methods of the invention.

1 . A method of packaging and stabilising a foodstuff comprising the steps of: forming a package comprising a peelable seal in a region of the package and filling the package with the foodstuff; followed by treating the package at ultra high pressure to stabilise the foodstuff in the package without rupturing the peelable seal. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the package comprises forming a flexible pouch substantially from sealable film material. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of forming the package comprises folding-over a single sealable sheet, and bonding the margins of the sheet together to form edges of the flexible pouch. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the bonding is weaker in a first region of the margin than in the remainder of the margin, whereby the peelable seal is formed in said first region. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the package comprises providing a formed tray and sealing the sealable film across the top of the tray. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal strength of the peelable seal as measured by ASTM F88-00 is in the range of from about 2N to about 20N both before and after the ultra high pressure treatment. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the sealable film is a laminate comprising a core layer and a sealing layer, and wherein the sealing layer comprises primarily a polyethylene or a polyvinyl acetate. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the peelable seal is formed by heat sealing a flexible sheet material at a temperature below the peak temperature reached in the ultra high pressure treatment step. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of forming the package comprises bonding two sheets of sealable film material in a face to face relationship at margins of the sheets to provide a flexible pouch. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the bonding is weaker in a first region of a margin than in the remainder of the margin, whereby the peelable seal is formed in the first region. 
     
     
         11 . A package having a peelable seal and containing a foodstuff that has been stabilized inside the package by ultra high pressure treatment. 
     
     
         12 . A package according to  claim 11 , wherein the package is produced by a process according to  claim 1 .