Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) has proved to be one of the most significant and innovative growth areas in retail food packaging of the past two decades. Bulk modified atmosphere packs have been an accepted form of packaging for meat and poultry in the USA since the early 1970s, but MAP is only now of being widely adopted. Today there is a substantial wholesale on the verge market for bulk packaged fresh vegetables and fruit, and the most significant retail MAP products are fresh pasta, pre-cooked poultry and sausage, and biscuits (a unique American product). The United Kingdom is the biggest single market for the modified atmosphere packaging of fresh chilled food products, accounting for about half of the total European market. A further quarter is represented by France. The success of MAP in both the British and French markets can be attributed to the large, highly sophisticated food retailing multiples and dense populations existing in both countries.

Modified atmospheres are used to preserve foods without the need for unwanted preservatives. This book covers the subject from an industrial perspective and explains both how the technology works, and how it can be used. The editor and authors all have extensive practical knowledge of the subject and are world recognized authorities in the field. The new edition contains four new chapters and around 50% new material overall.

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a useful preservation system that allows to significantly increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. The MAP results of changing the composition of the atmosphere in the packaging headspace due to the dynamic interaction between the metabolic processes of the packaged product on the one hand, in which O2 is consumed and another gases such as CO2 and water vapor are generated, and on the other hand, by transferring all of these gases through the package. The aim of the system is to balance these two processes in such a way that constant levels of these different gases are reached in the packaging headspace and that these equilibrium levels are as favorable as possible to preserve the product. This chapter describes design strategies to obtain a satisfactory gas transfer capacity in the MAP system through the configuration of several related variables such as the type of packing material, its thickness, the transfer surface area and the required number and diameter of perforations. For this, the necessary steps are proposed to estimate the appropriate transfer capacity according to the equilibrium gas concentrations desired to longer preserve the product by using the mass balance equations of the MAP system.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of modern MAP technologies for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Coverage begins with the general MAP concept and application by introducing the concept of MAP, how MAP works for fresh-cut produce and the benefits and shortfalls of MAP in its application. The book then discusses the basic aspects of MAP – packaging materials and machinery. In these sections, the book addresses not only the general information about MAP materials, but also supplies examples to introduce the new packaging films and their successful application in produce and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Unique chapters and sections in the book include relevant patents for MAP, commercial practices and MAP packaging machinery. Generally, packaging machinery is only included in books specifically covering packaging engineering. Coverage of this important aspect is included in the book since fresh-cut manufacturers spend much more time in the day-to-day operations on packaging machinery and systems as compared to packaging film materials. In the final section, Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables highlights the latest developments in the packaging industry and how they could impact the fresh-cut industry.