Nitrogen Gas for Food Packaging

MVS has supplied a Nitrogen Gas Plant to a Fortune 500 Food products company located in Pune. The customer’s policy that its food products should be moisture-free, nutritious, tasty, hygienic and offers convenient options to the consuming public could not be met unless the packaged foods were protected in a MAP (modified atmosphere packaged) like Nitrogen.

The customer required Nitrogen to ensure widespread accessibility of healthy products because Nitrogen is moisture free and maintains crispy and Crunchiness of the food product. Nitrogen helps eliminate or substantially reduce the presence of Oxygen and that in turn prevents growth of contaminants such as bacteria etc.

Customer was earlier purchasing Nitrogen gas in cylinders from the market and the cost of the Nitrogen purchased from dealers was very high. Large consumption of cylinders (around 20 to 30 cylinders per hour) was the reason that the customer explored options of onsite nitrogen production and approached MVS. The customer’s initial ROI (return on investment) calculations were very attractive and the customer was recovering their capital investment in less than 1-year.

Customer procured a PSA Nitrogen Gas Plant from MVS of following specifications:

Technology: PSA Technology

Capacity: 200 NM3 /hr

Application: Food Packaging

Purity: 99.8 % Nitrogen

Facts: The benefits of Nitrogen for food packaging applications are now well known worldwide. Shelf life of snack foods like Potato chips, extruded snacks, Breakfast cereals, Nuts and other dry fruits is improved by expulsion of the air surrounding the food in the package.

Food particles are usually spoiled by the moisture in atmospheric air and the oxidation process triggered by oxygen in the air. Hence, food materials need to be packed securely by removing oxygen from the air inside these packages. Nitrogen is the best option to replace oxygen and prevent the oxidation of foods. Nitrogen is passed into food packages before sealing those packets for delivery.

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Prime benefits of using nitrogen in food packaging

❖ Nitrogen is safe for health, as it does not cause any negative reaction. Thus, people can consume nitrogen-packed food items even if they are not in good health. World Health Organization has checked the effect of nitrogen on human health and found it safe.

❖ Bacteria can grow on foods only in the presence of oxygen. Thus, replacing oxygen with nitrogen prevents bacterial growth and keeps food items healthy for consumption.

❖ The lack of oxygen within the packages can prevent the oxidation of foods, as oxidized food products emit a foul smell, and their tastes also change, making those foods inedible. So, nitrogen prevents oxidation and extends the shelf-life of commercially packed food products.

❖ Nitrogen also acts as a cushion by preventing food particles from crashing with each other within the packages. Thus, this gas stops food particles from getting crushed while shipping to consumers’ places.

❖ Nitrogen never interferes with the taste and quality of food products. Thus, people can get fresh food items and enjoy their natural tastes when foods are packed in a nitrogen-based environment.

Normally, 78% of the air comprises nitrogen, 21% is oxygen, along with 1% of water vapour and other gases. This percentage of nitrogen is boosted to 99% by introducing more nitrogen in food packages. All kinds of cereals, snacks, bakery foods, candies, processed meat, dry fruits, and fresh vegetables can be packed with nitrogen. These foods should be consumed very quickly after opening their packages when the packed nitrogen is released out, as food particles come into contact with atmospheric oxygen and humidity again.

About MVS Engineering

MVS Engineering is a turnkey supplier of Gas generation equipment for Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen gases. Additionally, we also manufacture Air, Gas, Liquid Dryers and also Gas Purification systems. MVS is the largest supplier of gaseous Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen plants in India. Besides India, MVS also regularly exports its equipment to the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and Europe.

MVS was founded in 1977 and has supplied over 8000 skid-mounted units worldwide. Read more about the company in the About Us section of our website.