Patent ID: 7803416

Claim:
A process for the manufacture of a fresh meat package by placing the meat product ( 14 ) on a support member ( 6 ) and closing the package in a lidding station ( 4 ) under a high oxygen-content atmosphere by means of a twin lidding film ( 3 ), comprising an inner, food-contact, oxygen-permeable film ( 15 ) and an outer oxygen-impermeable film ( 16 ), positioned over the meat product and heat-sealed to the periphery of the support member so as to bind a confined volume ( 19 ) within the package containing at least an amount of oxygen effective to inhibit discoloration of the packaged meat product, said process comprising the steps of: a. providing the twin lidding film ( 3 ) as a composite from a single supply roll ( 1 ), unwinding the film ( 3 ) therefrom, and directing the film into the lidding station ( 4 ); and b. following unwinding and before entering into the lidding station ( 4 ), completely separating the oxygen-permeable film ( 15 ) and the outer oxygen-impermeable film ( 16 ) of the twin lidding film ( 3 ), then superposing the two films again before heat-sealing the films to the support member.