Patent ID: 8668969

Claim:
A heat-shrinkable food packaging film having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the film comprising: (a) food contact layer comprising a myoglobin blooming agent, wherein the myoglobin blooming agent is selected from the group consisting of: Fremy's salt, nitrate salts having the formula (MNO 3 ) and inorganic nitrites (MNO 2 ), where the counter ion (M+) is selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, protonated primary, secondary or tertiary amines, quaternary amines and ammonium; and (b) an oxygen barrier layer; wherein the film has a free shrink value at 90° C. or less of at least 10% in at least one direction; wherein the myoglobin blooming agent is present on the food contact layer surface in a concentration sufficient to produce a desirable surface coloration of the meat product and prevent undesirable extension of the color into the body of the meat product; wherein the concentration of myoglobin blooming agent is between 0.001 to 0.900 mg/in 2 .