6 reasons why vacuum packaged food could be better for you

With health and hygiene concerns always on the rise, people are even more conscious of what they eat and how their food is packed. The right food packaging can make all the difference when it comes to freshness, cleanliness and overall nutrient preservation. 

Basically, the better the food is packaged, the better is it for you. When it to comes to hygienic and safe food packaging, the value of vacuum packaging and sealing can’t be denied. It is one of the best ways to ensure preservation of taste, shape and nutritional value of the food products and is also helpful for further storage, transportation and shipping – which is an important factor for exports. 

The technology and the science behind sealing and packing food under vacuum is the reason why it is a good choice for the packaging of meat, dairy and vegetables etc. So, if whenever you are on your weekly or monthly grocery trip, here’s 6 reasons why you should reach out for vacuum packed items without hesitation: 

1. Eliminates oxidation, preserves nutrients​ – When food is exposed to the oxygen in the air, all the nutrients, enzymes, minerals and bacteria which are beneficial to our body and are sensitive to oxidation, start to degrade. Vacuum completes removes the oxygen and other gases when sealing, effectively preserving all the nutrients and freshness of the product. 
2.  Preserves flavors​ –   Vacuum sealing does not alter the flavor profiles of the food when it is packed but rather seals it in and preserves it better. Vacuum packaging also reduces the heavy use of preservatives, which is known to affect the flavour and even sometimes your own physical health down the line. 
3. Prevents freezer burn​ – Food stored in the freezer can get discolored and damaged due to dehydration and oxidation. This happens when the air reaches the food due to bad packing. Vacuum packaged food is completely safe from freezer burn.
4. Maintains moisture and form – ​This method packaging also maintains and secures the moisture level of foods, keeping the juiciness, texture and shape of the food intact.
5. Prevents contamination – ​ Vacuum packaging is a great barrier against dust, moisture, and other environmental contaminants, so your food is kept clean and secure from all kinds of external bacteria and factors that could cause spoilage.  
6. Increases shelf life – The shelf life of the food packed under vacuum is significantly longer than the traditional methods, meaning your food can last up to 3 to 5 times longer without spoiling. This is an important benefit that can also help you reduce waste. 
   

This basic idea of vacuum packing is to remove air from the package prior to sealing. It involves (manually or automatically) placing items in a plastic film package, removing air from inside, and sealing the package. There are a few different ways and types of vacuum packaging methods like shrink wrap, skin wrap and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP).

In a shrink wrap, vacuum packed products are heated in a water bath to shrink the film before drying for a more tight, compact wrap. In skin wrap, a special film envelops the products without tension like a second skin. 

For modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) processes, well, it’s all in the name. This method involves altering or modifying the atmosphere inside the package. This is done by replacing it with as mixture of CO₂, nitrogen or even oxygen in high concentration to inhibit aerobic microorganisms. The result is a protective environment around the food that preserves its taste, safety, and appearance.  

Atlas Copco Vacuum has developed several different vacuum pumps and solutions that are supporting food industries all over the world. Our systems make the vacuum food packaging process faster, more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Our dry and oil-sealed technologies like our GHS VSD⁺ oil-sealed vacuum pumps allow food industries to reduce waste, save up to 50% on energy* and CO₂ consumption and drive up their productivity thanks to the innovative features and design.

We partner with different companies and food processing facilities to explore more ways to improve the quality of food packaging operations – always innovating and always making sure food wastage is controlled.

*When using pumps with our Variable Speed Drive feature. Seen in most applications compared to traditional fixed speed vacuum technologies based on measurement with our Vbox energy audit tool.