FreshPax Oxygen Absorbing Packets protect packaged foods such as bakery and snacks, dairy, meals, ready-to-eat (MRE) and beverages from spoilage, mold growth, color change, rancidity and loss of nutritive values.
Buffalo, New York
They are manufactured in packet form using food grade ingredients, FreshPax Packets which absorb oxygen inside sealed packaging to less than 0.01%.
Bob Sabdo, market leader, North American Food and Beverage Packaging, Multisorb, said its sorbents provide an alternative to reduce the use of preservatives and additives in food.
“Oxygen is one of the biggest threats to the longevity of food products. The use of an oxygen absorber, such as our FreshPax packets, FreshCard, or FreshMax self-adhesive absorbers can protect the quality of food products,” he said.
“The benefits to using sorbent technology include retention of color and flavor, extended shelf life, extended distribution potential and sustainability, which all contribute to the protection of brand integrity.”
He added, color is one of the most important factors that influence consumer’s buying decisions. Color degradation in cured meat products, for example, is caused by photoxidation. This light activated free radical reaction can be slowed by removing the oxygen before the product is placed in a lighted retail display case.
FreshMax has been shown to reduce oxygen in packaged sliced ham to approximately 0.1% in 36–48 hours and to less 0.01% shortly thereafter. It can increase shelf life up to 21 days.
The company was awarded the Food Safety Management System FSSC 22000 certification for the design, development, manufacture and distribution of sorbents to the food and beverage industries at its Buffalo, New York, US facility.
Food safety in the supply chain
The certification demonstrates Multisorb's commitment to food safety and ability to manufacture products that will not cause harm to the food or consumers as defined by FSSC 22000, which is increasingly required by food processors to assure food safety in the supply chain.
FreshPax oxygen absorbing packets and strips are one example of products manufactured at the site.
“To cater to the needs of our customers, we have an expansive line of Drop-In, Fit-In, and Built-In technologies,” said Sabdo.
“A Drop-In solution consists of an optimized sorbent in the form of a packet that is dropped directly into the food package.
“Fit-In sorbent solutions are custom manufactured to a particular shape and size to fit into a device or packaging. And Built-In sorbent solutions integrate sorbent technology into a molded part or packaging film.
“The format options we provide give our customers a higher level of flexibility.
“For a sorbent to be sized correctly many factors must be reviewed, such as the product’s ingredients, the packaging configuration, the packaging material’s water vapor and/or oxygen transmission rates, desired shelf life and more.”