26.1 Introduction: new packaging techniques and the consumer New packaging techniques promise consumers safe food products that keep their high quality throughout shelf-life. The improved quality has been achieved by applying tailored technological solutions that require highly specialised knowl- edge. From consumers'point of view these new techniques require explanations if food can keep fresh for an unexpected and thereby unnaturally long time

24.1 Introduction: the problem of plastic packaging waste Polymers and plastics are typical materials of the last century and have made a tremendous growth of some hundreds of tons/year at the beginning of the 1930s to more than 150 million tons/year at the end of the 20th century with 220 million tons forecast by 2005. Western Europe will account for 19% of that amount. Today

Major technological developments in food packaging can introduce many benefits to consumers and food and food-packaging industries, but at the same time they are liable to the introduction of new problems. Although active and intelligent packaging continues to broaden in scope and these new packaging systems are already being successfully applied in the USA, Japan and Australia its penetration in the European

Consumer satisfaction is related to fresh product quality. This quality is generally associated with visual appearance, colour being one of the most important aspects in the consumer's purchase decision. The association of certain colours with the acceptance of fruits and vegetables begins early and is maintained through life. For instance, when the red colour of fruit is enhanced, the perceived sweetness level increases. Colour is normally used to determine

Fresh fish products are usually more perishable than most other foodstuffs due to their high aw, neutral pH, and presence of autolytic enzymes. The spoilage of fish and shellfish results from changes caused by oxidation of lipids, reactions due to activities of the fishes'own enzymes, and the metabolic activities of microorganisms (Ashie et al., 1996). The rate of deterioration is highly temperature dependent and can be inhibited by the use of low storage

Conceptual models are descriptions of our understanding of system that are used to shape the implementation of solutions to problems. 58 The quality and quantum of innovation that will occur in development of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) strongly depends upon the insights gained from robust conceptual models of components of MAP. In this chapter, we outline a number of simple principles about modified atmosphere(MA) systems that we believe will assist industries that apply MA technology to move beyond the rather

Modified atmosphere packaging(map) is widely used for many food products and is now a commercial and economic reality. MAP is common in markets that have a well established and controlled cold chain and that can sustain a high- priced quality product. However, MAP is a mild preservation method and a major concern is that MAP storage may not provide a sufficient level of safety for the extended storage of fresh chilled food products with regard to pathogenic

Modified atmosphere packaged (MAP )prepared fresh produce provides substrates and environmental conditions conducive to the survival and growth of microorganisms. Minimal processing treatments such as peeling and slicing disrupt surface tissues, expose cytoplasm and provide a potentially richer source of nutrients than intact produce(Brackett 1994; Barry-Ryan and O'Beirne, 1998, 2000). This, combined with high Aw and either close to neutral (vegetables) or low acid (many fruits) tissue pH, facilitate microbial growth (Beuchat, 1996)

During recent years there has been an explosive growth in the market for fresh prepared fruit and vegetable (i.e. produceproducts. The main driving force for this market growth is the increasing consumer demand for fresh, healthy, convenient and additive-free prepared product items. However, fresh prepared produce items are highly perishable and prone to the major spoilage mechanisms of enzymic discoloration, moisture loss and microbial growth. Good manufacturing and handling practices along with the appropriate use of modified atmosphere packaging(mp)are relatively effective at inhibiting

Interactions within a package system refer to the exchange of mass and energy between the packaged food, the packaging material and the external environment. Food-packaging interactions can be defined as an interplay between food, packaging, and the environment, which produces an effect on the food, and/or package (Hotchkiss, 1997). Mass transfer processes in packaging systems are normally referred to as permeation, migration and absorption(fig8.1). Permeation is the process resulting from two basic mechanisms