Packaging for Extending Life of Respiring Produce and Other Perishable Foodstuffs

Abstract

A package for extending a useful life of perishable foodstuff includes at least one polymeric based layer. The at least one polymeric based layer contains an anti-microbial and anti-fungal additive in an amount effective to prevent product deterioration of the fresh produce due to microbial activity, fungal activity or both microbial and fungal activity. The at least one polymeric based layer includes an effective amount of an ethylene absorbing additive throughout a thickness of the film to absorb a sufficient amount of ethylene to delay the ripening process of the perishable foodstuff where the combination of the an ethylene absorbing additive and the anti-microbial and anti-fungal additive creates a synergistic effect that extends the useful life of the perishable foodstuff.

1 . A package for extending a useful life of perishable foodstuff, comprising:
 at least one polymeric based layer containing an anti-microbial and anti-fungal additive in an amount effective to prevent product deterioration of the fresh produce due to microbial activity, fungal activity or both microbial and fungal activity and an or fungal and an effective amount of an ethylene absorbing additive throughout a thickness of the film to delay the ripening process of the foodstuff.   
   
   
       2 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the anti-microbial and anti-fungal additive comprises a silver ion loaded zeolite. 
   
   
       3 . The packaging of  claim 2  and wherein the silver ion loaded zeolite comprises between about 0.1 and about 12.0 weight percent of the at least one polymeric based layer. 
   
   
       4 . The packaging of  claim 2  and wherein the silver ion loaded zeolite comprises between about 0.5 and about 3.0 weight percent of the at least one polymeric based layer. 
   
   
       5 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the ethylene absorbing additive comprises a hydro-phobic synthetic zeolite designed to selectively absorb ethylene. 
   
   
       6 . The packaging of  claim 5  and wherein the hydro-phobic synthetic zeolite comprises between about 2 and about 15 weight percent of the at least one polymeric based layer. 
   
   
       7 . The packaging of  claim 2  and wherein the hydro-phobic synthetic zeolite comprises between about 3.0 and about 5.0 weight percent of the at least one polymeric based layer. 
   
   
       8 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the at least one polymeric based layer includes a selected oxygen transmission rate based upon the composition of the polymers utilized in forming the at least one polymeric based layer. 
   
   
       9 . The packaging of  claim 1  and further comprising a moisture dispersing material comprises between about 0.1 and about 5.0 weight percent of the at least on polymeric based layer. 
   
   
       10 . The packaging of  claim 9  and wherein the moisture dispersing material comprises between about 0.25 and about 3.0 weight percent of the at least on polymeric based layer. 
   
   
       11 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the at least one polymeric based layer comprises at least a portion of a bag. 
   
   
       12 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the at least one polymeric based layer comprises at least a portion of a clam shell package. 
   
   
       13 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the at least one polymeric based layer comprises a pail, a lid or both a pail and lid. 
   
   
       14 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the at least one polymeric based layer comprises a film for wrapping perishable foodstuffs. 
   
   
       15 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the at least one polymeric based layer comprises three co-extruded layers. 
   
   
       16 . The packaging of  claim 1  and wherein the at least one polymeric based layer comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, or a combination of polyethylene and polypropylene. 
   
   
       17 . A package for extending a useful life of perishable foodstuff by destroying both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria comprising:
 at least one polymeric based layer comprising a selected amount of a zeolite having ionic characteristics that attracts both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria to a surface of the at least one polymeric based layer and wherein the zeolite destroys the cellular wall of both the Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and a selected amount of an anti-microbial and anti-fungal additive in an amount effective to inhibit respiration of the both the Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria such that the neither the Gram positive nor the Gram negative bacteria adversely affect the useful life of the foodstuff.   
   
   
       18 . The package of  claim 17  and wherein the anti-microbial and anti-fungal additive comprises a silver ion loaded zeolite. 
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 17  and wherein the zeolite having ionic characteristics comprises a hydro-phobic synthetic zeolite. 
   
   
       20 . The packaging of  claim 17  and wherein the at least one polymeric based layer comprising the anti-microbial and anti-fungal additive and the zeolite having ionic characteristics also destroys mold, mildew, yeast and other fungi.