Fruit & food guide
Meat, poultry and seafood packaging guide
Fresh meat, poultry and seafood are usually packed in sealed trays with a protective gas mix (MAP), using barrier materials that keep oxygen and moisture out. The tray, its lidding film and any absorbent pad are chosen together for the product and the shelf life needed.
- MAP tray footprints140 × 104 mm, 190 × 140 mm, 310 × 200 mm
- Barrier filmsPET/PE, PET/EVOH/PE, PET/PA/PE
The pack system
- Tray: sized to the cut, with a flat sealing flange.
- Barrier: in the tray material or a laminate, to keep oxygen out.
- Lidding film: sealed to the flange after the gas is flushed in.
- Absorbent: a pad or capillary tray to hold drip from meat.
MAP or vacuum
MAP keeps the product loose and its colour natural under a gas mix; vacuum skin packs hold the product tight under film. Both need barrier materials.
Getting it right
Tell AVI's team the product, gas mix, sealing machine and target shelf life. The team will match the tray construction and film and supply the barrier data for your trials.
AVI packs for this
| Pack | Type | Size (L × W × H) | Empty weight | Holds | Per carton | Enquiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTE 104 140/40 | Modified-atmosphere-packaging tray | 140 × 104 × 42 mm | 10 g | — | — | |
| TBT 140 190/40 PP | Modified-atmosphere-packaging tray | 190 × 140 × 40 mm | 18.3 g | — | — | |
| TBT 140 190/60 PP | Modified-atmosphere-packaging tray | 190 × 140 × 60 mm | 22 g | — | — | |
| RTE 140 190/40 3CP PP | Modified-atmosphere-packaging tray | 190 × 140 × 40 mm | 18.8 g | — | — | |
| RTE 200 310/45 PL PP | Modified-atmosphere-packaging tray | 310 × 200 × 45 mm | 33 g | — | — | |
| TRAY140TR190/40PET | Capillary absorbent meat tray | 190 × 140 × 41.5 mm | 14 g | — | — | |
| Lid 104 141 | Flat lid for MAP RTE 104 series tray | 142 × 106 × 12 mm | 6.5 g | — | — | |
| LID 141 191 | Flat lid for RTE 140 series tray | 196 × 145 × 12 mm | 10 g | — | — |
All packs are rPET. Figures from AVI's catalogue; tolerances and fill depend on the product, so samples are the final check. See the full catalogue.
AVI products
- MAP / Modified Atmosphere Trays13 MAP tray formats from AVI Global Plast, matched to AVI's high-barrier film structures for extended shelf life....
- High Barrier Films for Thermoforming & Food PackagingAVI Global Plast's high barrier films — PET/PE, PET/EVOH/PE and PET/PA/PE structures, 100–800 microns, for MAP,...
- Meat & Protein PackagingBarrier trays from AVI Global Plast engineered for meat and protein freshness and leak protection. Request a quote.
Terms in this guide
- EVOH
- Ethylene vinyl alcohol, a plastic layer with a very high oxygen barrier, used inside multi-layer films and trays.
- High-barrier film
- A multi-layer film that blocks oxygen and moisture, such as PET/EVOH/PE, for meat, dairy and other sensitive food.
- Lidding film
- A film heat-sealed onto a tray or punnet to close it. It can be perforated for breathing produce or high-barrier for MAP.
- MAP (modified atmosphere packaging)
- Packing food in a sealed tray where the air is replaced with a protective gas mix, which slows spoilage.
- Migration
- The transfer of substances from packaging into food. Food-contact rules set limits, checked by testing.