Versaperm freezer-burn-free-food

Nutrition & Food Science

ISSN: 0034-6659

Article publication date: 28 March 2008

77

Citation

(2008), "Versaperm freezer-burn-free-food", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 38 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2008.01738bab.022

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited


Versaperm freezer-burn-free-food

Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition

Versaperm has introduced two ways to help eliminate the problem of freezer burn meat, fish, pizzas and other frozen foods. The company has introduced a new instrument the WVTR MK VI to measure the water vapour permeability of packaging materials which are the cause of freezer burn. Versaperm has also introduced a testing service for when the volume of testing is insufficient to require dedicated equipment. Freezerburn is caused by water vapour escaping from the product's frozen surface and migrating through the packaging. It causes an unsightly and unappetising brown stain or appears as a fuzzy, greyish-white spot on the food. Though not usually harmful, it causes off-flavours and both dries out and toughens the food which then has to be discarded for quality reasons. Most plastics are impermeable to water as a liquid, but all allow water vapour to pass through to varying degrees. The only way to check is to test your packaging. Fortunately Versaperm is a world leader in this area and its highly sensitive and accurate equipment can produce a reading, sometimes in as little as 30min. Conventional measurements of vapour permeability take days, or even weeks.

Water vapour measurements are crucial in almost every area of food processing it causes cornflakes to go soggy, cake mix to congeal, equipment to fail, pies to crumble and it can substantially reduce the shelf life of many products. It is one of the most wide spread causes of product failure on everything from missiles to pizzas. In all of these cases Versaperm can help!

Please send any enquiries to Christopher Roberts, Versaperm Limited, B940-H41 Popjak Road, Sittingbourne Research Centre, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9.

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