Food waste is a mounting concern for consumers and food manufacturers alike, and a large portion of the responsibility to solve the problem falls on packaging suppliers. To help reduce food losses, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America offers an oxygen-absorbing technology for flexible packaging that can more than double the shelf life of some food products.  The technology keeps food looking and tasting fresher for longer on store shelves and consumer pantries, resulting in less food wasted throughout the supply chain.

Mitsubishi’s technology is embedded as a film layer within flexible packaging, and safely extends and protects original food flavors, aromas and textures without sachets or packets. Because spoilage is a main reason grocery stores and consumers throw away food, maintaining the fresh look and feel of food is crucial to cutting back on waste.

The technology, available as a resin for the first time in the United States, can be combined with any barrier film to provide maximum shelf life. It protects food from outside oxygen while absorbing the oxygen inside a sealed food package, creating an atmosphere within packaging in which oxygen concentration is reduced to 0.1 percent or less.

The technology is ideal for retort packaging applications and can be used with products such as soups, sauces, processed fruit, dips, protein bars, prepared meals and wet pet foods. It can also preserve natural, organic and gluten-free products that are particularly vulnerable to food spoilage without the need for preservatives or additives.

To help manufacturers explore this technology to its full extent, Mitsubishi is offering food processors a free assessment.  This assessment will help determine how much the technology can increase the shelf life of a specific product.    

 “Food companies face a challenge in reducing food waste while balancing consumer demands for fresh, natural foods,” said Sean Hael, Manager, Marketing and Sales at Mitsubishi Gas Chemical. “Our proven shelf-life extending technology offers brands a solution.”

The solution will be on display at PACK EXPO Las Vegas (Sept 25 – 27, 2017; Las Vegas Convention Center), Central Hall Booth #3636. For more information, see Mitsubishi’s website, or email ageless@mgc-a.com or call 212-687-9030.