Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) for Peanuts

When it comes to feeding your family or indulging in a personal snack, nothing beats the convenience and variety of your local grocery store. As you wander through the store's winding aisles, you'll notice that each type of food is stored differently, even your favorite snacks. As more and more people focus on the benefits of healthy eating, many are turning to snacks like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Health experts are particularly enthusiastic about nuts because of their "good" fat content, protein source, and heart-healthy benefits. They are quickly becoming the snack of choice for those seeking a healthier lifestyle.

However, it's worth noting that when you open a sealed bag of peanuts or crack open a can of cashews, you are disrupting a carefully curated environment. These snacks are stored in special containers filled with nitrogen gas that help to keep them fresh and flavorful. When you open them up, you're letting in air and moisture, which can alter the taste and texture of the nuts. So the next time you reach for a handful of almonds, take a moment to appreciate the careful storage and packaging that keeps them tasting their best.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is a highly effective technique that utilizes specific gases to create a sterile environment inside food packages, significantly extending the shelf life of snacks and ensuring their freshness when they reach grocery stores.

Bacteria such as mold and mildew thrive in oxygen-rich environments, making nuts like peanuts, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios particularly susceptible to going stale quickly if exposed to oxygen for extended periods. However, by injecting food-grade nitrogen and removing oxygen, the decay process is significantly slowed down. This process inhibits oxidation and microbial growth, keeping the food fresh for a much longer time. As a result, MAP is a proven method for preserving food and maintaining its quality.

Peanut and nut packagers face a unique challenge as many nut varieties are found worldwide, and it is crucial that they reach consumers as fresh as when they were picked. Our favorite tree nuts and peanuts come from various regions such as Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Despite different locations, the overall process remains the same: nuts are sorted and cleaned after being harvested and then transferred to packaging once these processes are completed.

To achieve this, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) machines, such as vertical form fillers, are equipped with injection nozzles that introduce food-grade nitrogen gas into product bags as they are being filled. This nitrogen blanket adds a protective barrier from oxygen, which not only increases the shelf-life of the snack but also ensures that it reaches the consumer as a high-quality product. Additionally, the process eliminates food waste caused by food spoilage, saving costs on production that would otherwise be lost when the product is lost.

Many companies purchase nitrogen directly from gas companies in cylinders, which must be stored at the processing/packaging facilities. Often there are safety issues associated with their storage and handling.

The finite number of cylinders create the ever possibility of running out of nitrogen gas in the middle of your production schedule. More food and beverage packaging companies are realizing that expensive, long-term contracts with gas companies are not the best option.

The best and most cost-effective solution is to generate your own supply of nitrogen gas on-site and on-demand using a nano nitrogen gas generator. This creates a reliable,

Benefits include:

1. Purities of up to 99.999%

2. Generate the nitrogen gas you need, only when you need it and at the purity you require

3. Food-grade nitrogen is generated on-site so you will never run out of nitrogen gas again

4. Payback is typically between 6 to 24 months (about 2 years)

5. Easy installation with minimum cost and no disruption

6. Guaranteed performance