Nitrogen And Food Freshness      

Nowadays, there has been more and more research on how to use different gases for the packaging process of food products. To help maintain the quality and nutritional value of food products as long as possible. which increases the shelf life of the food itself Gas-Flushing is the process of filling products under the atmosphere of a specific gas, such as carbon dioxide. 

or nitrogen gas By spraying the desired gas to replace the air inside the container. which is one of the most widely used methods especially used for Remove oxygen gas in containers of products sensitive to oxidation (Oxidation Reaction) such as fatty foods, fruit juices, etc.

The gas used to replace the air inside the container can be of many types, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), etc. But the most commonly used gas in the Gas Flushing system in the food industry is Nitrogen gas because it is a gas that has the following properties:

It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-toxic gas. Therefore, it can be used with all kinds of food products.

It is an inert gas to chemical reactions. Therefore, it is often used to replace oxygen gas. to prevent the oxidation of fats and oils or browning reaction in food It is a non-explosive gas. and safe for the environment

It is a gas that is very soluble in water and fat. Therefore, nitrogen gas bubbles can be sprayed through the raw materials. or liquid products such as oil

        The nitrogen gas will encapsulate the oil molecules. This makes it possible to reduce oxidation reactions. and rancidity Nitrogen gas is sprayed to remove air in the containers of potato chips. and various snacks This is one step that allows manufacturers to extend the shelf life of their products. Lance Inc. ) 

Gas Flushing has been applied to snack products. by using nitrogen gas to replace the air in the container which received satisfactory results This can increase the shelf life of potato chips by 33% longer than usual and increase the shelf life of peanuts up to 2 times longer than usual. that air Originally,

 it was only used to pack products in metal containers. and after the packaging process has been modified by adding nitrogen gas injection process It was found that the total required expenses did not increase much. compared to the results obtained which can maintain product quality and freshness for a longer period of time

Benefits of packing food products using the Gas-Flushing method

1. To increase shelf life Delay or prevent the deterioration of the quality of food products. 

The major chemical reactions that occur in food products are oxidation reaction which when it occurs with fat or oil will cause the food to go rancid a change in color smell and taste of food Therefore, using a gas flushing process to remove the oxygen gas in the air that surrounds the food. can help slow down or prevent this reaction Praxair has studied the shelf life of potato chips. by packing in different atmospheric conditions 

2. Reduce the use of food additives (Food). 

Usually in food products with a high content of fat, such as potato chips, food additives such as BHA and BHT are added to help prevent oxidation. (Antioxidants), but when nitrogen gas is added to replace the normal air. Nitrogen gas prevents the transformation of fats and oils used in the production process. by reducing the oxidation reaction Therefore, it can help reduce the use of food additives in another way as well.

3. Prevent damage that may occur to the product inside the container. 

In addition to such benefits The packing technique is designed to form a pillow-shaped container. And when gas is added to replace the air in the container, the bag inflates. It helps to improve the appearance of the container to be more eye-catching. It can also help to prevent damage to the product inside the container, such as breakage of potato chips.

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