What is Packaging in Modified Atmosphere? (MAP)

Air causes oxidative deterioration of food products, bacteria and mold growth in food products. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is the packaging of food products in an atmosphere of protective gas or gas mixtures. Gases delay the oxidative deterioration and growth of bacteria and mold in the food product, extending the shelf life of the product, ensuring its safe and high quality.

MAP Advantages:

1. Provides longer shelf life (2-5 times more than air) for food products.
2. Requires less preservative additives in food products.
3. It provides the opportunity to present ready-made sliced products to the consumer.

MAP Gases:

• (E290) Carbon dioxide slows down the growth of bacteria and mold, whereas it dissolves in the food product (especially oil).
• (E941) Nitrogen, an inert gas, is used to remove ambient air and as a filling gas.
• (E948) Oxygen oxidizes fats, promotes the growth of aerobic bacteria and molds, whereas red meat discoloration.
• (tarnishing) and slows down the growth of anaerobic bacteria.

The main purpose of the MAP is to create an oxygen-free atmosphere in the packaging of the food product, and carbon dioxide, which slows down the growth of bacteria and mold. For this reason, shielding gases used in MAP are generally composed of a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases.

There is a separate gas composition for each food product. The gases are supplied to the food packaging machine in steel tubes as pre-mixed or the food packaging machine takes the gases from separate steel tubes and mixes them. Or, protective food gases are prepared from liquefied gases stored in tanks in the food production area.