JP2001169722A - Package for retaining vegetable and fruit freshness - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the subject package excellent in appearance and taste freshness retaining effects. SOLUTION: This package for retaining freshness of vegetables and fruits is such one as to seal-package vegetables and fruits, and an ethylene decomposer in another package with a synthetic resin film provided with micropores and/or cracks, wherein the oxygen concentration in the seal-package is kept at 0.2-17%, carbon dioxide concentration, 3-20%, and ethylene concentration, <=25 ppm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a package for keeping freshness by suppressing the respiration of fruits and vegetables and removing ethylene.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Fruits and vegetables continue to breathe after harvesting and age and mature. As a means to prevent this, it is better to suppress breathing and reduce water evaporation. To suppress breathing,
It is known that the condition of low oxygen and high carbon dioxide is good, and that it is good to pack tightly. However, if the inside of the package is excessively low in oxygen and high in carbon dioxide, the fruits and vegetables will cause respiratory disorders, filling the package with an offensive odor, and promoting a reduction in product quality. Conversely, if the oxygen concentration is too high or the carbon dioxide concentration is too low, aging and aging are accelerated, and a sufficient freshness retaining effect cannot be obtained. In other words, the package needs to supply an unobstructed amount of oxygen and emit carbon dioxide while suppressing breathing. Vegetables have completely different respiration rates depending on the type, so it is necessary to adjust the oxygen and carbon dioxide permeation amount of the packaging material accordingly.

[0003] In addition, in fruits and vegetables producing a large amount of ethylene,
Even if breathing is suppressed with packaging materials, it does not mean that it is not zero, so ethylene gradually accumulates in the bag, and the effect of the ethylene may cause problems such as cavitation of the pulp, discoloration, and reduction in commerciality due to reduction in acidity. Has become. As a method for removing ethylene, a means called adsorption or decomposition is considered. Adsorption is
Silica gel, activated carbon, molecular sieves and the like are used to absorb by using polarity in the surface dents, but the amount of adsorption is limited, and if it exceeds the limit, the effect will be lost. Further, since water vapor is also adsorbed at the same time, when the inside of the bag is humid such as in a sealed package, there is a disadvantage that the amount of ethylene adsorbed is easily reduced by the amount of water vapor adsorbed, and it takes time. In the decomposition method, a metal is generally caused to act on ethylene as a catalyst, and silver, palladium, or the like is preferable as the metal. Further, there is a method in which an adsorbent such as activated carbon is used in combination to prevent the decomposition ability from being lowered by contact with water and to increase the adsorption speed. "A freshness preserving agent and a method for preserving freshness of fruits and vegetables" (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-21326) describes a method for preserving freshness with sulfates and nitrates of palladium, iron and silver. No adjustments were made to gas concentration or film transmission. As a method of decomposing, a method using components of wasabi and hinoki (trade name: wasauro, hinokitiol) and the like are known, but these odors are difficult to use because they adhere to fruits and vegetables. Further, the decomposition by ozone is possible for long-term storage by easily generating ozone itself and continuously generating it in a facility such as a refrigerator, but it is not possible to continuously supply ozone to the package inside the package. Can not be used. As a technique for combining respiratory depression with a packaging material and an ethylene removing agent (including an adsorbent and a decomposer), "Apple preservation method" (JP-A-60-2379)
No. 36), using polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or the like for the packaging material, adjusting the film thickness for adjusting the gas permeation amount, and using KMnO _{4 for} removing ethylene.
And the use of activated carbon. However, since the gas adjustment is adjusted by the film thickness, if the film is thinner, the gas permeation increases, but the strength as a package is lost,
KMnO ₄ cannot be used due to the problem of disposal of manganese, and there is a problem that ethylene is not effectively removed because activated carbon alone is adsorbed as described above. Also, "freshness retaining film for fruits and vegetables" (JP-A-63-110186)
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-176,086) describes a method of kneading activated carbon into a film. However, kneading the film into a film lowers transparency and makes fruits and vegetables difficult to see, and thus is not suitable as a package for fruits and vegetables. Further, "Method for maintaining and maintaining freshness of fruits and vegetables" (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
JP-A-210552) describes a method using a microporous film and an ethylene adsorbent. However, since pores having a pore diameter of 20 μm or less are formed so that ethylene gas can easily pass through the film, the production of fruits and vegetables is difficult. The adjustment of the gas permeation amount of the package required for breathing is insufficient. As mentioned above,
There has been no method in which gas adjustment of a synthetic resin film is performed with fine holes or scratches and an ethylene decomposer is combined.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a freshness maintaining package for fruits and vegetables which is excellent in a freshness maintaining effect by removing ethylene while suppressing the respiration of the fruits and vegetables.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a package in which fruits and vegetables and a separate package of an ethylene decomposing agent are hermetically packaged with a synthetic resin film provided with micropores and / or flaws. Is 0.2 to 17%, the carbon dioxide concentration is 3 to 20%, and the ethylene concentration is 25 ppm or less. In a preferred embodiment, the fine pores and / or scratches provided in the synthetic resin film have a pore diameter of 200 μm or less, more preferably 30 to 100 μm.
m. As a preferred embodiment, the number of micropores provided in the synthetic resin film is 1 or more per 1 m ² , and the ethylene decomposer is composed of palladium chloride or silver chloride and activated carbon,
The package for maintaining freshness of fruits and vegetables, wherein the package for packaging fruits and vegetables has an oxygen permeation amount and a carbon dioxide permeation amount of 500 to 40000 cc / m ² · 24 hr · atm.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The synthetic resin film used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is used for packaging fruits and vegetables, as long as it has good transparency and is moderately stiff. In general, biaxially oriented polypropylene, polyethylene, biaxially oriented polypropylene-polyethylene, lamination of polystyrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamide-type resin film, polyester-type resin film, and the like, such as polylactic acid Biodegradable plastic film may be used. However, in order to package fruits and vegetables, it is necessary to further adjust the amount of oxygen permeation and the amount of carbon dioxide permeation of each fruit and vegetable to make the inside of the bag into a state of low oxygen and high carbon dioxide. The package of the present invention has an oxygen concentration of 0.2 to 17 depending on fruits and vegetables in order to obtain a freshness maintaining effect.
% And carbon dioxide concentration within the range of 3 to 20%, and the state is preferably maintained stably. Outside this range, discoloration due to anaerobic odor and oxidation, fading due to respiration, and the like occur, and freshness cannot be maintained. In order to quickly bring the gas concentration in the package into a predetermined range, a means for enclosing a mixed gas of oxygen and carbon dioxide may be employed, and if the permeability of the film is selected so that the state is stable after encapsulation. Good. As a method for adjusting the gas permeation amount of the film of the present invention, fine holes and / or scratches are provided. The pore size at that time is 200 μm
The following is preferred. In order to set the transmission amount more finely, the pore diameter is more preferably 30 to 100 μm. Micropores and scratches may or may not penetrate. If the hole diameter is less than 30 μm, holes and scratches cannot be accurately formed, and if it exceeds 200 μm, the gas permeation amount of the synthetic resin film cannot be finely adjusted. Holes and scratches can be provided arbitrarily, but when using a film of a material that is easy to tear, do not close the gap between the fine holes,
It is better to apply it so that it does not penetrate the scratch. Further, it is desirable that the fine holes and scratches do not whiten the film and impair the appearance. As for the processing method of the fine holes and the flaws, a conventional technique is sufficient.

The ethylene decomposer used in the present invention includes:
A combination of palladium chloride or silver chloride and activated carbon is preferred. Molecular sieves other than activated carbon may be used. A substance in which palladium chloride or silver chloride is deposited and supported on the surface of activated carbon of fine powder dried at 300 ° C. is preferable,
The loading method is not particularly defined. The decomposing agent is packed in a durable paper or non-woven fabric so that it does not come into contact with the fruits and vegetables and is easy to handle. The mixing ratio and total weight of palladium chloride or silver chloride and activated carbon are not particularly limited as long as the ethylene concentration in the package is adjusted to 25 ppm or less. The ethylene concentration is preferably 0 ppm, that is, absent, but depending on the storage temperature of the fruits and vegetables, a large amount of ethylene generated, such as a tugar apple, may have an ethylene concentration of 1000 ppm in the package at 20 ° C. for 3 days,
Even in this case, freshness can be maintained by enclosing an ethylene decomposer and lowering the content to 25 ppm or less.

The synthetic resin film used in the present invention has an oxygen permeability and a carbon dioxide permeability of 500 to 40000 cc.
/ M ² · 24 hr · atm is preferable, and depending on the fruits and vegetables to be packaged, the oxygen concentration is 0.2 to 17% and the carbon dioxide is 3 to
It needs to be adjusted to 20%.

The form of the package of the present invention includes a four-side seal bag or a gusset bag of a synthetic resin film. Further, a method of filling a biodegradable tray or cup with fruits and vegetables and packing it with a synthetic resin film in a horizontal pillow wrapping machine or a method of sealing the tray or cup with a synthetic resin film as a lid material may be used. .

[0010]

EXAMPLE An ethylene decomposer A was prepared by packing 1 g of palladium chloride on 4 g of activated carbon in the form of fine powder having a diameter of about 1 mm and dried at 300 ° C. with a nonwoven fabric. Example 1 Biaxially stretched polypropylene having a thickness of 30 μm was uniformly provided with 60 micropores having a diameter of 70 μm per 1 m ² (oxygen permeation rate: 11,000 cc / m ² · 24 hr · at).
m). From this film, a bag of 250 mm x 300 mm was prepared, and 1 kg of Earls Melon and ethylene decomposer A
Was sealed and stored at 25 ° C. Table 1 shows the results. << Comparative Example 1 >> An ethylene decomposer A was placed in the same bag as in Example 1.
Without enclosing, 1 kg of Earls Melon is sealed and packaged,
Stored at 25 ° C. Table 1 shows the results. << Comparative Example 2 >> In a bag similar to that of Example 1,
An ethylene adsorbent in which 1 kg of each piece and 4 g of activated carbon were packed in a nonwoven fabric was hermetically sealed and stored at 25 ° C. Table 1 shows the results. Comparative Example 3 Five micropores having a pore diameter of 30 μm were uniformly provided in biaxially oriented polypropylene having a thickness of 30 μm per 1 m ² (oxygen permeation amount: 2200 cc / m ² · 24 hr · atm). From this film, make a 250mm x 300mm bag,
1 kg of Earls Melon and ethylene decomposer A were hermetically packaged and stored at 25 ° C. Table 1 shows the results. Comparative Example 4 Biaxially oriented polypropylene having a thickness of 30 μm was provided with 100 micropores having a pore diameter of 100 μm uniformly per 1 m ² (oxygen permeation amount: 32,000 cc / m ² · 24 hr · at).
m). From this film, a bag of 250 mm x 300 mm was prepared, and 1 kg of Earls Melon and ethylene decomposer A
Was sealed and stored at 25 ° C. Table 1 shows the results.

Example 2 Twenty-two micropores having a pore diameter of 80 μm were uniformly provided in biaxially stretched polypropylene having a thickness of 30 μm per 1 m ² (oxygen permeation amount: 6400 cc / m ² · 24 h).
r · atm). 200mm x 300m from this film
A bag of m was prepared, 600 g of two Tugar apples and ethylene decomposer A were hermetically packaged, and stored at 25 ° C. Table 2 shows the results
Shown in << Comparative Example 5 >> An ethylene decomposer A was placed in the same bag as in Example 2.
Without enclosing it, hermetically wrapped 600g of two Tugar apples,
Stored at 25 ° C. Table 2 shows the results. << Comparative Example 6 >> In the same bag as in Example 2, an ethylene adsorbent in which two Tugar apples (600 g) and activated carbon (4 g) were packaged in a nonwoven fabric was hermetically sealed and stored at 25 ° C. Table 2 shows the results. Comparative Example 7 Biaxially oriented polypropylene having a thickness of 30 μm was provided with three micropores having a diameter of 50 μm uniformly per 1 m ² (oxygen permeation amount: 2300 cc / m ² · 24 hr · atm).
A bag of 200 mm x 300 mm was prepared from this film, and two 600 g of caramel apples and ethylene decomposer A were hermetically packaged and stored at 25 ° C. Table 2 shows the results. Comparative Example 8 Biaxially oriented polypropylene having a thickness of 30 μm was uniformly provided with 60 micropores having a diameter of 90 μm per 1 m ² (oxygen permeation amount: 17000 cc / m ² · 24 hr · at).
m). From this film, a bag of 200 mm × 300 mm was prepared, and 600 g of a caramel apple and an ethylene decomposer A
Was sealed and stored at 25 ° C. Table 2 shows the results.

The symbols of the freshness evaluation in the table are as follows. Freshness ○: good, □: starts to change, Δ: product limit has been exceeded, ×: remarkable deterioration Burnt: peeling turns black

[0013]

[Table 1]

[0014]

[Table 2]

[0015]

According to the package of the present invention, fruits and vegetables having good appearance and taste can be supplied.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A package in which fruits and vegetables and a separate package of an ethylene decomposer are hermetically packaged with a synthetic resin film provided with micropores and / or scratches, wherein the oxygen concentration in the hermetically sealed package is 0.2%.
A package for keeping freshness of fruits and vegetables, wherein the package has a freshness of up to 17%, a carbon dioxide concentration of 3 to 20%, and an ethylene concentration of 25 ppm or less. 2. The package for preserving freshness of fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, wherein the pore size of micropores and / or scratches provided in the synthetic resin film is 200 μm or less. 3. The package for maintaining freshness of fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, wherein pores and / or scratches provided in the synthetic resin film have a diameter of 30 to 100 μm. 4. The number of micropores provided in a synthetic resin film is one.
The package for maintaining freshness of fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, wherein the number is one or more per m ² . 5. The package for preserving freshness of fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, wherein the ethylene decomposer comprises palladium chloride or silver chloride and activated carbon. 6. The oxygen permeation amount of a package for packaging fruits and vegetables,
Carbon dioxide permeation amount 500~40000cc / m ² · 24hr · at
The package for maintaining freshness of fruits and vegetables according to claim 1.