Patent ID: 6508955
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: A23B,A23L,B01J,B65D,C09K

Abstract:
An oxygen scavenging packet for use in a modified atmosphere package, comprising:(a) a plurality of side walls defining an enclosed space; (b) an oxygen absorber within the enclosed space, said oxygen absorber comprising iron, silica gel, a carbon dioxide generator, and an electrolyte; and (c) a liquid oxygen uptake accelerator located within a separate compartment within the enclosed space, said oxygen uptake accelerator comprising water, wherein said separate compartment within the enclosed space is capable of being ruptured; wherein the contents of said separate compartment consist essentially of the liquid oxygen uptake accelerator; said liquid oxygen uptake accelerator which is present in said packet in an amount in the range of from about 0.2 ml to about 0.8 ml for each approximately 2.5 grams of iron wherein a packet containing approximately 5 grams of iron is capable of reducing the oxygen concentration in a quart-sized modified atmosphere package consisting essentially of air having about 2% oxygen and about 20% carbon dioxide to less than about 0.5% oxygen in about 90 minutes at about 34Â° F. immediately after the oxygen absorber comes into contact with the oxygen uptake accelerator.