FOOD GASES

Contact with air can cause food to have physical, enzymatic, microbiotic and chemical deteriorations. This can cause bacterial growth and molding. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is a process of food packaging with gases that has protective properties or mixture gases. The gases that used in MAP takes place of the air and prevents spoiling of food in short amount of time.

ASALGAZ FOOD GASES are produced to be used safely in MAP technology for its customers.

Choosing the right gas or gas mixture for MAP is critical. First of all, it is important to know what are the effects of the chosen gas on specific food and it’s spoiling process.

In general there are 3 gases used in MAP:

Nitrogen: It is an inert gas and its solubility in water is very low. It is colorless and scentless. Nitrogen plays 2 significant roles in packaging.

1- Replaces oxygen and prevents oxidation and its results such as unwanted taste and smell  formation.

2- Due to its inert characteristic, prevents vacuuming in packages.

CO2: It is an important gas used in MAP. It prevents and reprieves mold and aerobic bacteria development.  Under high concentration, room temperature and normal pressure it is colorless and scentless, however, it has small amounts of acidic properties.

O2: It is a colorless and scentless gas with low solubility in water.  Oxygen catalyzes oil and pigment oxidation and change in color reactions of food. Especially, it enables growth of moles and bacterias that causes food deterioration. Oxygen needs to be removed in MAP. However, oxygen is needed in fresh fruit and vegetable packaging to help with aspiration and in red meat packaging to keep the red color. 

Use of Food Gas in MAP;

1- Increases shelf life and presentation quality of products

2- Helps preventing short term spoiling

3- Reduces need for use of preservatives, enables to provide customers more natural products.

Areas of Use:

- Dairy Products                             - Meat and poultry goods

- Baked Goods                                - Fresh fruits and vegetables

- Convenience Good

It is very important to do routine gas analysis to ensure correct gas concentration in packages which used MAP technique. In this sense, Asalgaz provides support to its customers by using gas analysers