Modified atmosphere packaging is for long distance transport of bananas, a system was developed and patented by the United Fruit Company.
In modified atmosphere packaging is to provide a low oxygen atmosphere in individual boxes of bananas to prevent ripening during transit.
It involves the sealing of commodities in plastic films so that the composition of gases of respiration and transpiration in and around the banana is altered.
Modified atmosphere packaging works by slowing down the deterioration of the banana or minimally processed fruits.
The storage life of banana can be increased five times when they are stored in plastic film where the gas content stabilized at about 2% O2 and 5% CO2 with an ethylene absorber compared with fruit sites without wraps.
There are plastics that have different behaviors to protect and preserve products in storage and distribution. They provide different diffusion action of gases, vapors and other low molecular weight
ecies through the materials.
There are special applications such as packaging bananas where an ethylene gas remain in a package is used to artificially ripen the bananas.
The amount of gas required to initiate bananas to ripen depends on their stage of maturity at harvest, the pulp temperature of the fruit and the time of exposure of the fruit to the gas.
Generally, very low concentration of ethylene are sufficient to mature fruit at 14-19 degree Celsius. These are in the range of 1 – 10 ppm.
Modified atmosphere packaging
