Abstract: A combination of a liquid-tight meat tray an absorbent/separating layer inserted into the meat tray, wherein the absorbent/separating layer has an absorbent pad and a film arranged on the absorbent pad for reducing the permeability of meat juice released by gravity from a piece of meat placed onto the absorbent/separating layer. The meat tray, the absorbent/separating layer, and the piece of meat placed on the absorbent/separating layer are to be wrapped by a fresh-keeping foil such that a common closed envelope is formed of the fresh-keeping foil. The combination as a zone introduced into a space to be enclosed by the fresh-keeping foil, wherein the zone contains a purely plant-based preservative of crushed spice material having microbially active volatile components employed in a chemically unchanged form.