EMCO Fresh Technologies Ltd
Specialists in MAP / CAP Packaging & Diagnostic Equipment

EMCO Fresh Technologies has been set up as a division of EMCO Packaging Systems to provide active packaging support to food manufacturers using Modified or Controlled Atmosphere Packaging Systems.

These systems operate by either introducing a pack atmosphere of a predetermined gas composition, or allowing one to develop over the early packed life of the product. Product activity, however, can either alter the former or not allow the latter to develop, resulting in deterioration of product quality and an effective reduction in target shelf life. EMCO Fresh Technologies offers active packaging systems, which will compensate for these problems and allow stable target pack gas atmospheres, with maintained quality, throughout a product shelf life and even a significantly extended shelf life

The systems that EMCO Fresh Technologies offers are based on pack inclusions in the form of sachets and pads. These are designed to either evolve or absorb a particular gas, or can be designed to do both, at rates and volumes that will compensate for changes, caused by product activity, in the pack gas composition, and allow the maintenance of the optimum pack atmosphere.

An example of this, in one of its simplest applications, is the inclusion of oxygen absorbing self-adhesive labels within nitrogen flushed packs of cooked meats and convenience foods. The labels effect the removal oxygen from the residual ambient atmosphere left within the pack and prevent photo-oxidation and discolouration of the product.

In the case of fresh red meat and poultry, conventionally packed in a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the latter gas will readily dissolve in the aqueous phase of the product,

With whole and prepared fresh produce, the developing technology of elevated oxygen CAP has provided the possibility of extended, maintained quality shelf life. Product activity, however, causes marked changes in the pack gas atmosphere composition, with greatly reduced levels in oxygen over time, but more importantly, an equivalent elevated level of carbon dioxide, which effectively limits the shelf life of the product. This problem can be overcome by the inclusion of a sachet designed to both generate oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and allows an optimum pack atmosphere to be maintained.

Where fresh produce is packed under a MAP system, such as leaf salads and bagged new potatoes, the gas transmission capability of the packaging material may not be able to allow the optimum equilibrium modified atmosphere to be established in respect of the carbon dioxide composition.

Active packaging in the form of either carbon dioxide generator, or absorber sachet or pads will provide an effective solution.

The service offered EMCO Fresh Technologies is comprehensive in that it will, where required, establish the optimum pack gas composition for a product, develop active packaging to maintain this and even advise on both the packaging machinery systems and materials which will deliver the optimum results.

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