PACKAGING

Abstract

A method of packaging live oysters and clams 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 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 oysters or clams 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 oysters and clams in said container, 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 cm.sup.3O.sub.2/m.sup.2/day bar.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealable container is a leak-proof plastic tray.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the OTR of said flexible film is in the range of 1500 to 15000 cm.sup.3O.sub.2/m.sup.2/day bar.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the OTR of said flexible film in in the range of 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.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the OTR of said flexible film in in the range of 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.

6. A package for use with live oysters or clams comprising a tray with a flat floor and side walls extending upwardly from the floor, the side walls being of a sufficient height to permit the tray to accommodate a number of oysters or clams, said side wall being contiguous with one another and said floor to define a leak proof open tray, and the upper edges of said side walls formed as a flat lip extending around the upper peripheral edge of said tray; and a layer of flexible sealable film sealed to the lip around upper peripheral edge of said tray, said 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 selected to permit sufficient O.sub.2 to enter into said package, while maintaining the leak proof aspect of the package.

10. 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.

11. A package as claimed in claim 6, wherein the OTR of said flexible film in in the range of 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.

12. A package as claimed in claim 11, wherein the corners of said tray are rounded.

13. A package as claimed in claim 6, wherein the OTR of said flexible film in in the range of 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.

14. A package as claimed in claim 13, wherein the corners of said tray are rounded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In drawings that illustrate the present invention by way of example:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray for a package for oysters or clams according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a front view of the package shown in FIG. 1, with film applied thereto.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through line III-III in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] As shown in the drawings, the present invention relates to a package, and also to a method for packaging live oysters and clams. 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] After extensive experimentation, the Applicant has determined that an improved oyster mortality rate is obtainable using a package filled with air. Oxygen may be added if desired. The package therefore comprises a formed leak-proof plastic tray 2, sealed with a food-compatible film 5 having an Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of at least 1500 OTR. The OTR of the film may be higher, up to 250K or higher. In this regard, if a completely leak-proof package is desired, it is preferred to use film with an OTR of 1,500 to 15,000. In practice, however, and with appropriate handling, use of film in the range of 10,000 OTR to 250,000 OTR is appropriate.

[0032] OTR is measured in cm.sup.3 of O.sub.2 per m.sup.2 per day bar. It has been found that at levels in excess of about 15000 OTR that the packaging ceases to be leak-proof.

[0033] 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 attractively, and the fact that it's 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 useful in packaging for live oysters and clams, which require an environment containing enough O.sub.2 to survive. Live oysters and clams require fairly constant replenishment of O.sub.2 in their environment. However, when such film is used to package fresh fish, there is in fact no atmosphere inside the package, as the film is vacuum sealed around the fish piece.

[0034] The film 5 of the package of the present invention is applied in a similar manner to that of CA 2489738, around the lip 7 of the formed plastic tray 2 in which the oysters or clams have been deposited. In this regard, the film 5 can be heat sealed to the perimeter of plastic tray 2, to lip 7 around its upper edge. It can alternatively be adhered by sonic welding or appropriate adhesives.

[0035] The film may be, for instance Cryovac™ film. Extremely low to zero oyster mortality rate can be obtained with the packaging of the present invention.