Food Storage

It is not commonly known that many food products are kept in a fresh healthy condition during storage, transport and display by making sure that the atmosphere of gas around them is deliberately modified to slow down the decomposition process. The decomposition takes the form of unwanted bacterial activity or the natural ripening process - thus by delaying these processes food can be bought by the consumer in a fresh edible state for a much longer period of time after harvesting or baking.

This technique is commonly termed 'Modified Atmosphere' packaging or storage. It is of great value to suppliers and consumers alike as the end produce can arrive without the high cost of refrigeration and with negligible effect on taste or texture.

The Gas Data GFM100 series offer a number of gas analysis options that can help create and control these conditions. For example the GFM101 equipped with a single infra-red sensor can be used to measure precise levels of carbon dioxide in a potato storage warehouse or in a packet of washed salad or fresh fruit being transported in shipping containers.

For many types of food the technique works best when more than one gas is modified. This many be oxygen for example so by choosing the GFM121 instrument both carbon dioxide and oxygen can be analysed simultaneously in one instrument.