Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)  [ Return towards  Food & Beverage  ]

Natural evolution of food products
As soon as it comes into contact with air, food can suffer from physical, enzymatic, microbiological, and biochemical deterioration. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is a process for packaging foodstuff together with a gas or a gas mixture having protective. MAP gases are used to replace the air inside the packaging and eliminate or reduce any product deterioration. Among the ALIGAL^TM solutions we have developed a special range of products for Modified Atmosphere Packaging.

Technical corner
MAP focuses on solid and pasty foodstuffs. For liquids, we have developed inerting applications.

This preservation technique:
• maintains the visible and perceptible quality of the product (appearance, colour, texture and taste) as well as its invisible quality (protection against micro-organisms)
• lengthens the product’s shelf life
• matches the preference for "natural" products and reduced preservatives
MAP helps to eliminate or reduce potential product deterioration.

Successful outcomes through a mix of elements
This preservation technique covers many types of products:
• fresh products such as meat, delicatessen products, pizza, bakery and pastry products, grated cheese, prepared vegetables, and cooked dishes
• dried products such as peanuts, milk powder, coffee, and potato flakes
• To use MAP, you must own or acquire a packaging machine and special film to protect the product. By optimizing the parameters, MAP can provide a highly successful solution.

Air Liquide and MAP gases

MAP is now used worldwide, but has varying levels of penetration due to different consumer habits. It is a highly natural technique, and in many countries it is the preferred packaging solution. Thanks to our extensive partnership with food producers worldwide, we have the experience to address a broad range of long-standing and more recent food concerns. Beyond a wide range of food grade gas mixtures, ALIGAL^TM for MAP encompasses a full range of equipment and services like:
• Microbiological filtration on our customers sites
• On site gas mixing for fine tuned packaging atmospheres
• Audit installations and customer trainings