Patent ID: 7314895

Claim:
A method for releasing CO 2 into a surrounding environment, comprising: exposing a CO 2 releasing composition to an elevated relative humidity environment; wherein the CO 2 releasing composition comprises: CO 2 releasing material blended with a thermoplastic, wherein the CO 2 releasing material comprises carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and an acid; reacting the CO 2 releasing composition with moisture from the elevated relative humidity environment; and releasing a controlled amount of CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into the surrounding environment, wherein the CO 2 releasing material has a sufficient amount and ratio of the carbon and oxygen containing salt of the alkali or alkaline earth metal and the acid so that, in the presence of moisture, the CO 2 releasing composition reacts to release CO 2 gas through the thermoplastic into a surrounding environment; wherein the carbon and oxygen containing salt of an alkali or alkaline earth metal is a carbonate; wherein the composition is in the form of a film, sheet, insert or liner; and wherein the CO 2 releasing composition maintains a package environment for baked goods at a sufficient release rate of CO 2 to slow aerobic respiration of organisms that causes the baked good to become stale.