Extending the shelf life of food has become an important quest for food manufacturers. The average consumer demands fresh, natural foods, which can be a challenge in today’s society, as food travels great distances from the manufacturers to the end users. Consumers are also more health conscious and educated, demanding less preservatives that can have a negative impact on their health. In addition, there is a large focus on foodborne illnesses and preventing outbreaks before they reach the consumers. 

How can food manufacturers extend the shelf life of their products without adding additional additives and 

preservatives, so they can meet the demands of their consumers safely? Linde has a solution. 

“There are many ways to prevent food from spoiling and extend the shelf life, but Linde’s innovative solution helps modify the atmosphere within the food packaging to help prevent microbial growth and extend the shelf life without impacting the taste of the products,” says Mary Vessele, Specialty Gas Market Manager for Linde. 

Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) 

Linde’s solution involves using gases that are naturally found in the earth’s atmosphere to preserve food with a process called Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). As Vessele further explains in her Food Safety Strategies article, MAP involves changing the atmosphere inside the container that the food is packaged in and replacing it with a specified level of pure gas or gas blend that will extend the shelf life and reduce loss due to spoilage. 

Selecting the ideal gas or gas mixture is vital to the success of modified atmosphere packaging and depends on the food that is being preserved. Linde’s Extendapak® gases include pure nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen as well as precise mixtures. There is much to be considered when picking the correct Extendapak package. Not only does the type of food being packaged impact what Extendapak package to use, but also the packaging and how the food is prepared affect what gas mixture is best suited for preservation. Linde’s technical support is ready to assist you to help ensure that the optimal gases are used.  

MAP with Extendapak® Gases Offer Advantages

Extendapak gases create a packaging atmosphere that may reduce microbial growth, minimize spoilage and slow enzymatic and biochemical degradation, allowing you to:

Because of its process advantages, Linde Extendapak technology helps you: