ABSTRACT
30Food packaging exists to make our lives easier. Modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) foods have become increasingly more common as food manufacturers have attempted to meet consumer demands for fresh, refrigerated foods with extended shelf-life. MAP dramatically extends the shelf-life of packaged food products, and in some cases food does not require any further treatment or any special care during distribution. However, in most cases extending shelf-life and maintaining quality requires a multiple hurdle technology system—for example, introducing temperature control as well as MAP is generally essential to maintain the quality of packaged foods. MAP technology offers the possibility to retard the respiration rate and extend the shelf-life of fresh produce and is increasingly used globally as value adding in the fresh and fresh-cut food industry. The attitude toward active and intelligent packaging is positive and there is still much potential for exciting innovation to come.
