Systems and methods for extending the fresh life of perishables in the retail and vending setting

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to mechanically refrigerated retail and vending display systems and methods or use for extending the shelf-life of perishable products in the retail or vending setting. This is accomplished by maintaining an appropriate modified and controlled atmosphere (MA/CA) environment for the perishable product in a retail or vending display unit. The systems and methods of the invention maintain the MA/CA environment for a time period of 10 days or longer, wherein the marketable shelf-life of a perishable product is at least doubled. The systems may also operate in a power generation/power production mode, such that the fuel cells maintain the MA/CA environment while providing both primary and/or back-up power.

It is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for extending the fresh shelf-life of perishable products in a refrigerated retail or vending display system, comprising:
 (a) obtaining one or more perishable products;   (b) providing a sealable, mechanically refrigerated retail or vending display unit having at least one refrigeration component, at least one sealable gas port and an oxygen reduction means; and   (c) transferring the one or more perishable products to the retail or vending display unit, wherein operation of said mechanical refrigeration unit generates a recirculating, gaseous forced air stream that can be directed across the oxygen reduction means creating and maintaining a low oxygen modified and controlled atmosphere (MA/CA) environment in said retail or vending display unit wherein the fresh shelf-life of one or more perishable products is at least twice as long as that of the same perishable products not maintained in an MA/CA environment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more perishable products are non-respiring fresh perishables selected from the group consisting of meat, fish, poultry, bakery and dairy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said MA/CA environment comprises an oxygen level of 10000 ppm or less and a CO 2  level of 25-100%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said MA/CA environment comprises an oxygen level of 9000 ppm or less, 8000 ppm or less, 7000 ppm or less, 6000 ppm or less, 5000 ppm or less, 4000 ppm or less, 3000 ppm or less, 2000 ppm or less 1000 ppm or less, 500 ppm or less, or 100 ppm or less. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said MA/CA environment comprises a CO 2  level of greater than 25%, greater than 30%, greater than 35%, greater than 40%, greater than 45%, greater than 50%, greater than 55%, greater than 60%, greater than 65%, greater than 70%, greater than 75%, greater than 80%, greater than 85%, greater than 90%, greater than 95%, greater than 98% or greater than 99%. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said MA/CA environment further comprises a temperature within the range of 26° F.-37° F. and a humidity level selected from the group consisting of greater than 75%, 75%-100%, 75%-80%, 80% to 85%, 85% to 90%, 90-95%, 90%-98% and 100%. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retail or vending display unit holds from 3 days to 21 days of inventory, wherein the marketable shelf-life of the non-respiring fresh perishable products is at least doubled. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retail or vending display unit comprises a means for loading or unloading the retail or vending display unit while minimizing the amount of ambient air that enters the MA/CA environment of the retail or vending display. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sealable retail or vending display unit comprises sensing, control and user-interface means effective to manage and maintain the conditions of the primary high CO 2 , low O 2 , temperature-controlled MA/CA environment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retail or vending display unit further comprises sensing, control and user-interface means that manage one or more of loading, weighing, selecting, unloading, product rotation, centrally controlled and programmed digital pricing and promotional displays, packaging, mitigating and communicating anomalies. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said low O 2  MA/CA environment is established and maintained by an oxygen reduction means selected from the group consisting of electrochemical means, catalytic means, chemical or biochemical means, mechanical means, pressure swing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retail or vending display system further comprises a temporary storage or inventory unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said temporary storage or inventory unit provides for perishable product storage used to replenish the retail or vending display unit as product is removed from the retail or vending display. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said oxygen reduction means is a fuel cell effective to generate power. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the power-generating fuel cell compromises a switchable fuel cell cathode exposable to a recirculating stream inside the sealable retail or vending display unit and to air or another oxygen source contained inside or outside said sealable retail or vending display unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein when said mechanical refrigeration unit is in the power production mode, the unit is effective to operate in the absence of an external power source and maintain operation of the refrigeration unit to provide temperature control and to maintain the specified MA/CA conditions in the retail or vending display unit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein when said mechanical refrigeration unit is in the power production mode, the unit is effective to charge one or more batteries. 
     
     
         18 . A retail or vending display system for extending the shelf-life of a perishable product, including a mechanically refrigerated sealable retail or vending display unit, comprising:
 (a) a refrigeration component having at least one sealable gas port wherein operation of said mechanical refrigeration unit generates a recirculating, gaseous forced air stream;   (b) an oxygen (O 2 ) reduction means wherein the O 2  reduction means provides and maintains a low oxygen modified and controlled atmosphere (MA/CA) environment in the retail or vending display unit;   (c) a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) input means wherein the CO 2  input means provides and maintains a high CO 2  modified and controlled atmosphere (MA/CA) environment in the retail or vending display unit: and   (d) one or more perishable products located in the modified and controlled atmosphere (MA/CA) environment of the retail or vending display unit, wherein said MA/CA environment is maintained in the refrigerated sealable retail or vending display unit and the marketable shelf-life of perishable products stored in said unit is least doubled as compared to the shelf-life of a perishable product stored in a retail or vending display wherein said MA/CA environment is not maintained.   
     
     
         19 . The retail or vending display system of  claim 18 , wherein said perishable product is a non-respiring fresh perishable selected from the group consisting of fresh or precooked meat, fish, poultry, bakery and dairy. 
     
     
         20 . The retail or vending display system of  claim 18 , wherein said MA/CA environment comprises an oxygen level of 10000 ppm or less, a CO 2  level of 25-100% and a humidity level selected from the group consisting of greater than 75%, 75%-100%, 75%-80%, 80% to 85%, 85% to 90%, 90-95%, 90%-98% and 100%.