Patent ID: 6749876
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: A23C,B65B,B65D

Abstract:
A method of packaging food articles exhibiting improved appearance and stackability comprising:providing an imperforate container having a hollow interior, an interior volume and an opening leading to the hollow interior; partially filling the interior volume with a quantity of gas releasing food stuff so as to define a headspace volume which is not filled with food stuff, said food stuff generating a quantity of a first type of gas when stored in the container and releasing the first type of gas into the headspace volume; overlaying and sealing the opening with a peelable, flexible seal membrane; and creating an enriched headspace gas by adding a quantity of the first type of gas supplied to the headspace volume from a source other than the food stuff, wherein the enriched headspace gas is capable of permeating through the packaging material at a rate greater than both the rate at which the first type of gas is released from the food stuff within the container and the rate at which air permeates into the container, such that the headspace volume can accommodate the food generated first type of gas sufficient to avoid potential outward bowing of the flexible seal membrane during the shelf life of the packaged food article.