Antioxidant Packaging as Additional Measure to Augment CO2-enriched Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Preserving Infant Formula Powder

Abstract

Al-laminated packaging film incorporating ascorbic acid or tocopherol at inner food contact layer was tested in the potential to improve antioxidative preservation of powdered infant formula under CO2-enriched atmosphere. Product of 200 g was packaged with the packaging film containing 0.3% antioxidant in sealant layer of low density polyethylene and stored at 30oC for 286 days with periodic measurement of package atmosphere and product’s quality attributes. The CO2-flushed package resulted in shrinkage of tight contact between the product and the film not allowing gas sampling of package atmosphere after 140 days. Package of tocopherol-incorporated film allowed some ingress of oxygen after 112 days presumably due to its weakening of heat-seal area. The increased oxygen concentration in the tocopherol-added film package led to the concomitant increase of peroxide value, an index of lipid oxidation. On the other hand, packaging of ascorbic acid-added film pouch could suppress lipid oxidation marginally in consistent manner compared to control package without any antioxidant.