Modified Atmospheric Packaging System And Method Of Use

Abstract

A perishable food product packaging system in which a number of individual packages are initially unsealed and placed into the interior of a master package. The atmosphere within the interior of the master package is then modified, which modifies the atmosphere within the individual packages. The master package is then shipped to a retail location where the master package is opened, at which time the interior of the master package and the individual packages are exposed to conventional atmosphere. The individual packages are then sealed and prepared for retail sale, which typically will include weighing, pricing and labeling each individual package. The individual packages are then displayed in a “grab-and-go” refrigerated case, where a consumer can select one or more of the individual packages without having to be waited on by store personnel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sealed package, comprising:
 a first packaging component defining an internal cavity;   an air tight seal about the internal cavity of the first packaging component;   an inert gas disposed within the internal cavity of the first packaging component;   a plurality of unsealed, sealable or unsealable receptacles disposed within the internal cavity of the first packaging component; and   the one or more sealable or unsealable receptacles having an interior within which a food product is contained; wherein the interior of each receptacle is in fluid communication with the internal cavity of the first packaging component.   
     
     
         2 . The sealed package of  claim 1 , wherein the first packaging component comprises a package formed of a pair of sealed webs of packaging material. 
     
     
         3 . The sealed package of  claim 1 , wherein the first packaging component comprises a pouch formed of a web of packaging. 
     
     
         4 . The sealed package of  claim 1 , wherein the first packaging component comprises a preformed tray and wherein a web of packaging material is sealed to the preformed tray form the air tight seal about the internal cavity of the preformed tray. 
     
     
         5 . The sealed package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receptacles disposed within the internal cavity of the first packaging component comprises a plurality of bags each having a reclosable seal. 
     
     
         6 . A method of packaging perishable food products, comprising the steps of:
 preparing a plurality of portions of a perishable food product;   placing a number of portions of the perishable food product into an interior defined by each of a plurality of individual unsealed sealable or unsealable receptacles;   placing the plurality of the unsealed sealable or unsealable receptacles into a cavity of a package, wherein the interior of each receptacle is in fluid communication with the cavity of the package; and   modifying the atmosphere within the cavity of the package and sealing the cavity to form a package in which the modified atmosphere is maintained within the cavity and the interior of each receptacle is exposed to the modified atmosphere.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method is carried out in a first location and the package is shipped to a second location remote from the first location, wherein at the second location the package is opened and the individual receptacles are sealed or not sealed, weighed, labeled and displayed for purchase by consumers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of placing each portion of the perishable food product into the interior defined by each of a plurality of individual receptacles comprises placing each portion of the perishable food product into the interior of a reclosable bag-type receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of modifying the atmosphere within the cavity of the package is carried out by gas flushing the interior of the package. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of modifying the atmosphere within the cavity of the package includes evacuating the interior of the package. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging system for perishable food products, comprising:
 a plurality of receptacles, each of which defines an interior within which a portion of a perishable food product is contained;   a package defining an internal cavity, wherein the plurality of receptacles are contained within the internal cavity and wherein each receptacle is configured such that its interior is open to the internal cavity of the package when the receptacle is contained within the internal cavity of the package; and   a modified atmosphere contained within the internal cavity of the package and a seal that closes the internal cavity and contains the modified atmosphere therewithin, wherein the seal that closed the internal cavity of the package maintains the modified atmosphere within the internal cavity of the package and within the interior of each of the plurality of receptacles.   
     
     
         12 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein each receptacle includes a closure, wherein the closures of the receptacles are at least partially opened when the receptacles are positioned within the internal cavity of the package. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the modified atmosphere contained within the internal cavity of the package comprises an inert gas. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 13 , wherein the modified atmosphere contained within the internal cavity of the package comprises a vacuum in addition to the inert gas. 
     
     
         15 . A packaging system of  claim 11 , further comprising a shipping container within which a plurality of the packages are contained, wherein the shipping container is adapted to be filled at a facility at a first location and shipped to a retail establishment at a second location remote from the first location. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging system of  claim 15 , wherein at the retail establishment, the package is opened, the receptacles are withdrawn from the package and sealed, and the receptacles are then displayed for retail sale.