Patent ID: 7147799

Claim:
A method for reducing the oxygen concentration in a modified atmosphere package, comprising the acts of: (a) placing an oxygen scavenging packet in the package, said oxygen scavenging packet comprising: (i) a plurality of side walls defining an enclosed space; and (ii) an oxygen absorber within the enclosed space, said oxygen absorber comprising iron, silica gel, a carbon dioxide generator, and an electrolyte, said iron is electrolytically annealed and reduced, said electrolyte is chosen from the group consisting of acids and salts, said silica gel is impregnated with said carbon dioxide generator, said acid is acetic acid or citric acid, said salt is a metal salt; (b) introducing a liquid oxygen uptake accelerator comprising water directly onto said oxygen absorber; and (c) immediately sealing the modified atmosphere package; wherein the amount of liquid oxygen uptake accelerator which is introduced into said packet is from about 0.2 mL to about 0.8 mL for each 2.5 grams of iron.