Gas barrier and liquid absorbent container for the packaging of food products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas barrier and liquid absorbent container ( 1 ) for use in the modified atmosphere packaging of food products which tend to release liquids. The container of the invention comprises a base and upwardly extending side walls terminating in a continuous flange horizontally projecting from the side walls, and comprising an inner part of a liquid pervious material ( 20 ), and an outer part of a liquid and gas barrier material ( 10 ), said inner and outer parts being joined together at the side walls and being spaced apart from each other at the base to define an interspace ( 30 ). A circumferentially extending continuous portion ( 11 ) of the surface of the liquid and gas barrier material is exposed to provide an area for a gas barrier closing lid to be sealed. The invention further relates to a method of manufacture of said container, to its use in the packaging of food products under a modified atmosphere and to the gas-tight packages thus obtained.

1 . A container for the packaging of food products comprising a first part made of a liquid and gas barrier material comprising a base and upwardly extending side walls terminating in a continuous flange outwardly projecting from said side walls said flange being provided with an upper surface and a lower surface, a second part made of a liquid pervious material, comprising a base and upwardly extending side walls optionally terminating in a flange outwardly projecting from said side walls, said second part being coaxially positioned into said first part in such a way that the bases of said first and second parts are spaced apart from each other to define an interspace and said first and second parts are joined together at the side walls and, when a flange is present in said second part, at the flanges provided that a circumferentially extending continuous portion of said upper surface of the flange of the liquid and gas barrier material is exposed to provide an area for a closing lid to be sealed to the container. 
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein no flange is present in said second part and said first and second parts are joined together only at the side walls. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to any preceding claim wherein the liquid pervious material is a thermoplastic material provided with one or more perforations. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to any preceding claim wherein the liquid pervious material comprises a foamed material. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to any preceding claim wherein the liquid and gas barrier material of said first part is a multilayer material comprising a structural layer, a gas barrier layer and a heat-sealable layer. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to any preceding claim comprising a first part made of a liquid and gas barrier material comprising a structural layer of foamed polystyrene, a gas barrier layer and a heat-sealable layer and a second part made of a thermoplastic material comprising a foamed polystyrene layer provided with one or more perforations. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6  wherein said second part is made of a material further comprising an adhesive layer positioned on the side of said second part facing said first part and wherein said adhesive layer comprises a blend of high impact polystyrene and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to any one of  claims 1  to  4  comprising a first part made of a liquid and gas barrier material comprising a structural layer of foamed poly(lactic acid) and a second part made of a thermoplastic material comprising a foamed poly(lactic acid) layer provided with one or more perforations. 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a container of any one of  claims 1  to  8  comprising the steps of:
 forming a first part made of a liquid and gas barrier material, said first part comprising a base and upwardly extending side walls terminating in a continuous flange outwardly projecting from said side walls, said flange being provided with an upper surface and a lower surface; 
 forming a second part made of a liquid pervious material, said second part comprising a base and upwardly extending side walls optionally terminating in a flange outwardly projecting from said side walls; 
 bringing said second part coaxially into said first part in such a way that the bases of said first and second parts are spaced apart from each other to define an interspace and said first and second parts are joined together at the side walls and, when a flange is present in said second part, at the flange provided that a circumferentially extending continuous portion of said upper surface of the flange of the liquid and gas barrier material is exposed to provide an area for a closing lid to be sealed to the container. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein no flange is present in said second part and said first and second parts are joined together only at the side walls. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  or  10  wherein said first and second parts are formed simultaneously and joined coaxially together in the same mold. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to any one of  claims 9  to  11  wherein said first and second parts are joined together by heat-sealing. 
     
     
         13 . A method of packaging a food product comprising loading said product in the container of any one of  claims 1  to  8 ; optionally vacuumizing and/or gas flushing the container with a suitably selected gas or gas mixture and closing said container by means of a gas barrier closing lid sealed to the circumferentially extending continuous portion of the upper surface of the flange of the liquid and gas barrier material exposed around the circumference of the container. 
     
     
         14 . A gas-tight package for food products comprising a food product loaded in a container of any one of  claims 1  to  8  closed by a gas barrier closing lid, disposed over the food product, and sealed to the circumferentially extending continuous portion of the upper surface of the flange of the liquid and gas barrier material exposed around the circumference of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The package according to  claim 14  wherein the food product is meat, poultry or fish.