PACKAGING

Abstract

A method of packaging live seafood including the steps of providing a sealable container, wherein the container includes a plastic tray having an interior volume and an upper peripheral edge, placing the live seafood in the container, and replacing the atmospheric gas in the container with a gas mixture including only CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2, with an O.sub.2 content of at least 50% by volume, and a CO.sub.2 content of at least 20% by volume, and sealing the container with a layer of flexible film including a sheet of flexible sealable film sealed to the upper edge of the tray, the flexible film having an Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) of at least 1500.

Claims

1. A method of packaging live seafood comprising the steps of providing a sealable container, wherein said container comprises a plastic tray having an interior volume and an upper peripheral edge, placing said live seafood in said container, and replacing the atmospheric gas in said container with a gas mixture comprising only CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2, with an O.sub.2 content of at least 50% by volume, and a CO.sub.2 content of at least 20% by volume, and sealing said container with a layer of flexible film comprising a sheet of flexible sealable film sealed to the upper edge of said tray, said flexible film having an Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) of at least 1500.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the OTR of said film is from 1500 to 15000.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the OTR of said film is about 10000.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said live seafood is mussels.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said live seafood is lobster.

6. A package for use with live seafood comprising a tray with a flat floor and side walls extending upwardly from the floor, the side walls being of a sufficient height to accommodate a predetermined number of live organisms, said side walls being contiguous with one another and said floor to define a leak proof open tray, and the upper edges of said side walls formed flat lip extending around the peripheral edge of said tray; and a layer of flexible sealable film sealed to the upper edge of said tray to enclose a modified atmosphere comprising at least 20% CO.sub.2 and at least 50% O.sub.2, said flexible film having an Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) of at least 1500 cm.sup.3O.sub.2/m.sup.2/day bar.

7. A package as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tray is substantially rectangular, and the corners of said rectangular tray are rounded.

8. A package as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tray is molded from plastic.

9. A package as claimed in claim 7, wherein said film, has an OTR in the range of 1500 to 15000 cm.sup.3 O.sub.2/m.sup.2/day bar.

10. A package as claimed in claim 7, wherein the OTR of said flexible film is about 10,000 cm.sup.3 O.sub.2/m.sup.2/day bar to above 250,000 cm.sup.3 O.sub.2/m.sup.2/day bar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In drawings that illustrate the present invention by way of example:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray for a package for mussels, lobsters or the like according to the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a front view of the package shown in FIG. 1, with film applied thereto.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through line III-III in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] As shown in the drawings, the present invention relates to a package, and also to a method for packaging live mussels, lobsters and the like. The package comprises a tray 2 made of suitable food-grade leak proof plastic material. The selection of a leak proof plastic material will be a matter of choice for one skilled in the art.

[0031] The tray 2 is molded from a single piece of plastic so as to be entirely leak proof. The corners 8 are rounded, to eliminate or reduce the chance of cracking the plastic. Similarly, the transition edge 9 between the end panels 3 and the floor panel 6 of the tray 2, as well as the transition edge 9 between the side panels 4 and the floor panel 6 are also rounded, to prevent or minimize cracks in the tray 2, which would cause the package to leak.

[0032] The tray 2 is generally rectangular in a preferred embodiment. This permits the most efficient packaging of multiple trays, and also facilitates use of machines to assist in packaging. Moreover, as will be explained herein, the tray 2 is sealed with a flexible film 5, so use of rectangular trays minimizes film usage and waste. Other shapes, such as circular or hexagonal, may be used for tray 2, if desired.

[0033] A flat lip 7 is formed around the upper perimeter of the tray 2, and is continuous along each side panel 3, font and back panels 4, and corners 8. The function of lip 7 is to provide continuous flat surface for the application of film 5 to cover tray 2.

[0034] As the product is placed in the tray 2, and before the film 5 is applied to the open top of the tray the gas in the tray, primarily ordinary air is purged, and a gas mixture only of O.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 with at least 50% O.sub.2 and at least 20% CO.sub.2, together with small amount of water, is blown into the tray 2, which is then sealed with film 5.

[0035] It will be noted, as regards high OTR film, that highly permeable film of about 10,000 OTR has been used to package fresh fish in vacuum packs. It is used in this type of fish packaging by Plastopil for its ability to adhere to the fish fillets, thereby to present the product well, and the fact that its very high permeability promotes the growth of anaerobic bacteria. This use is different from the Applicant's, in that use for fish packaging is not designed to keep the fish alive. Moreover, one would typically not expect that packaging for fresh fish, which stays fresher in low O.sub.2 environment to be appropriate for live seafood organisms. However, when used for fresh fish, there is in fact no atmosphere inside the film, as the film is vacuum sealed around the fish piece.

[0036] The film of the package of the present invention is applied in a similar manner to that of CA 2489738, around the rim of a formed plastic foam tray in which the mussels have been deposited, with a quantity of water and in a modified atmosphere of O.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 containing at least 50% O.sub.2 and 20% CO.sub.2.

[0037] A film of at least 1500 OTR is sealed around the edge of the tray. The film should be leak-proof.

[0038] The film may be, for instance be Cryovac™ film. Low to zero mortality rate is obtainable with the packaging of the present invention.