Abstract: A heat-shrinkable packaging article has one or more tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The tear initiators are present in a skirt and/or header of the article. The skirt and/or header has a first side and a second side. In one embodiment, some or all of the first side of the skirt and/or header can be heatset in order to reduce the shrink and curling of the skirt and/or header. This improves identification and utilization of the tear initiators by a consumer upon shrinking the packaging article around the product. In another embodiment, the skirt and/or header has a plurality of pairs of tear initiators to allow portions of the package to be torn off to expose a portion of the product that can then be sliced off while the remainder of the packaged product remains covered by a remainder of the film.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable packaging article has one or more tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The tear initiators are present in a skirt and/or header of the article. The skirt and/or header has a first side and a second side. In one embodiment, some or all of the first side of the skirt and/or header can be heatset in order to reduce the shrink and curling of the skirt and/or header. This improves identification and utilization of the tear initiators by a consumer upon shrinking the packaging article around the product. In another embodiment, the skirt and/or header has a plurality of pairs of tear initiators to allow portions of the package to be torn off to expose a portion of the product that can then be sliced off while the remainder of the packaged product remains covered by a remainder of the film.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable packaging article has one or more tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The tear initiators are present in a skirt and/or header of the article. The skirt and/or header has a first side and a second side. In one embodiment, some or all of the first side of the skirt and/or header can be heatset in order to reduce the shrink and curling of the skirt and/or header. This improves identification and utilization of the tear initiators by a consumer upon shrinking the packaging article around the product. In another embodiment, the skirt and/or header has a plurality of pairs of tear initiators to allow portions of the package to be torn off to expose a portion of the product that can then be sliced off while the remainder of the packaged product remains covered by a remainder of the film.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable bag has a means for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open the bag and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The bag is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil. The means for initiating tearing results in a first tear in the first side of the bag, and a second tear in the second side of the bag. The first tear and the second tear are each capable of being manually propagated through a heat seal and across the bag, or down the length of the bag, with the tear being capable of being manually propagated through and to an opposite bag edge, so that the product inside a package can be readily removed from the bag.

Abstract: A packaging article has tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having at least one layer containing an incompatible polymer blend, and/or a layer containing an inorganic filler, and/or a layer having a high Young's modulus. The film also has a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil, The tear initiators can be used to generate a manual machine direction tears to open the package, with the manual machine direction tear being capable of propagating in the machine direction to the opposite edge of the packaging article. A process for making a package and manually opening the package is also disclosed.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides a package and methods for disinfecting a wide variety of microbiologically contaminated products. Particularly, the disclosed package comprises a package to house the product to be disinfected and a disinfecting gas generator positioned within the interior of the package. The materials used to construct the package and/or the gas generator comprises an active agent that neutralizes the disinfecting gas from the interior of the package. The reactivity of the active agent is balanced such that the rate of neutralizing is lower than the rate of disinfecting gas release. As a result, the disinfecting gas has time to function fully before it is neutralized. Thus, when a user opens the package at the end of the disinfecting period, exposure to the disinfecting gas is minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable packaging article has one or more tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The tear initiators are present in a skirt and/or header of the article. The skirt and/or header has a first side and a second side. In one embodiment, some or all of the first side of the skirt and/or header can be heatset in order to reduce the shrink and curling of the skirt and/or header. This improves identification and utilization of the tear initiators by a consumer upon shrinking the packaging article around the product. In another embodiment, the skirt and/or header has a plurality of pairs of tear initiators to allow portions of the package to be torn off to expose a portion of the product that can then be sliced off while the remainder of the packaged product remains covered by a remainder of the film.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable bag has a means for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open the bag and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The bag is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil. The means for initiating tearing results in a first tear in the first side of the bag, and a second tear in the second side of the bag. The first tear and the second tear are each capable of being manually propagated through a heat seal and across the bag, or down the length of the bag, with the tear being capable of being manually propagated through and to an opposite bag edge, so that the product inside a package can be readily removed from the bag.

Abstract: A packaging article has tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having at least one layer containing an incompatible polymer blend, and/or a layer containing an inorganic filler, and/or a layer having a high Young's modulus. The film also has a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil, The tear initiators can be used to generate a manual machine direction tears to open the package, with the manual machine direction tear being capable of propagating in the machine direction to the opposite edge of the packaging article. A process for making a package and manually opening the package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cook-in bag having a patch adhered thereto provides is designed for cook-in of bone-in meat products. The patch is adhered to the bag with an adhesive capable of withstanding cook-in conditions.

Abstract: A package, which allows for butchering and packaging of fresh red meat at a centralized facility is provided which includes an impermeable tray supporting the product, a first film sealed to the tray for enclosing the product, a channel defined within the first film for exchanging gases into and out of the package, and a second impermeable film enclosing the first film, such that removal of the impermeable film provides for the exchange of gases into and out of the package. The channel for exchanging of gases may be perforations defined within the first film, a second highly permeable film sealed to the first film, or an enlarged opening formed within the first film, which is enclosed with a patch following adequate gas exchange at retail. Such gas exchange is required to release any low oxygen atmosphere and allow for the introduction of oxygen to the packaged meat product. The channel for exchanging gases having a gas transmission rate of at least about 50,000 cc/m2/24 hrs./atm. at 73° F.

Abstract: A patch bag comprises a lay-flat bag having a patch adhered thereto. The bag has an open top, a closed bottom, and first and second closed sides. The bag is made from a bag film having an inside surface which is sealed to itself. The bag film includes a seal impression on its outside surface. The patch is made from a patch film which is adhered to the outside surface of the bag film. The patch covers at least a portion of the seal impression on the outside surface of the bag film. The patch has a smooth, unimpressed outer surface over the seal impression on the bag film. A process for making the patch bag comprises sealing the bag film to itself and thereafter adhering the patch to the bag, with the patch being adhered over the seal impression on the bag film.

Abstract: A patch bag comprises a lay-flat bag having a patch adhered thereto. The bag has an open top, a closed bottom, and first and second closed sides. The bag is made from a bag film having an inside surface which is sealed to itself. The bag film includes a seal impression on its outside surface. The patch is made from a patch film which is adhered to the outside surface of the bag film. The patch covers at least a portion of the seal impression on the outside surface of the bag film. The patch has a smooth, unimpressed outer surface over the seal impression on the bag film. A process for making the patch bag comprises sealing the bag film to itself and thereafter adhering the patch to the bag, with the patch being adhered over the seal impression on the bag film.

Abstract: A package which allows for butchering and packaging of fresh red meat at a centralized facility is provided which includes a an impermeable tray supporting the product, a first film sealed to the tray for enclosing the product, means defined within the first film for exchanging gases into and out of the package, and a second impermeable film enclosing the first film, such that removal of said impermeable film provides for the exchange of gases into and out of the package. The means for exchanging gases may be perforations defined within the first film, a second highly permeable film sealed to the first film, or an enlarged opening formed within the first film which is enclosed with a patch following adequate gas exchange at retail. Such gas exchange is required to release any low oxygen atmosphere and allow for the introduction of oxygen to the packaged meat product, said means for exchanging gases having a gas transmission rate of at least about 50,000 cc/m2/24 hrs./atm. at 73° F.

Abstract: A package which allows for butchering and packaging of fresh red meat at a centralized facility is provided which includes a an impermeable tray supporting the product, a first film sealed to the tray for enclosing the product, means defined within the first film for exchanging gases into and out of the package, and a second impermeable film enclosing the first film, such that removal of said impermeable film provides for the exchange of gases into and out of the package. The means for exchanging gases may be perforations defined within the first film, a second highly permeable film sealed to the first film, or an enlarged opening formed within the first film which is enclosed with a patch following adequate gas exchange at retail. Such gas exchange is required to release any low oxygen atmosphere and allow for the introduction of oxygen to the packaged meat product. said means for exchanging gases having a gas transmission rate of at least about 50,000 cc/m2/24 hrs./atm. at 73° F.

Abstract: A cook-in bag having a patch adhered thereto provides is designed for cook-in of bone-in meat products. The patch is adhered to the bag with an adhesive capable of withstanding cook-in conditions.

Abstract: A packaging process is disclosed which includes the steps of providing a tray, providing an upper film which includes a sealant layer which is sealable to the tray, orienting the film to an orientation ratio of from about 6.0:1 about 16.0:1 positioning, a high profile product on the tray, extending the upper film above the tray and product, drawing the upper film into a concavity by differential pressure, maintaining the concave shape of the upper film while heating the film, removing gases from the space between the upper film and the tray and product, introducing a desirable gas into the space, releasing the upper film such that it shrinks toward the product and the tray while the desirable gas is retained within the space and prevents close contact of the film with the lowermost portions of the product, and sealing the upper film to the flange of the tray, wherein at least the step of heating the film shrinks the film, thereby tensioning it onto and across the underlying product.

Abstract: A packaging process is disclosed which includes the steps of providing a tray, providing an upper film which includes a sealant layer which is sealable to the tray, orienting the film to an orientation ratio of from about 6.0:1 to about 16.0:1, positioning a high profile product on the tray, extending the upper film above the tray and product, drawing the upper film into a concavity by differential pressure, maintaining the concave shape of the upper film while heating the film, removing gases from the space between the upper film and the tray and product, introducing a desirable gas into the space, releasing the upper film such that it shrinks toward the product and the tray while the desirable gas is retained within the space and prevents close contact of the film with the lowermost portions of the product, and sealing the upper film to the flange of the tray, wherein at least the step of heating the film shrinks the film, thereby tensioning it onto and across the underlying product.

Abstract: A dual-film package and method for making such package is disclosed which combines the manufacturing simplicity of a package having a single, peelable lid with the consistent peelability of a package having separate permeable and impermeable lids. This is accomplished by providing a support member and a lid having a gas-permeable film and a substantially gas-impermeable film. A first heat-weld bonds the gas-permeable film to the support member and a second heat-weld bonds the gas-impermeable film to the gas-permeable film. The first and second heat-welds each have a bond-strength which is greater than the intra-film cohesive strength of the gas-permeable film so that the lid preferentially delaminates within the gas-permeable film upon peeling, thereby leaving a portion of the gas-permeable film lidded to the support member.

Abstract: A laminate comprising two or more films, at least one of the films being a coextruded, multilayer film, wherein the laminate delaminates within the coextruded, multilayer film when the laminate is subjected to a peel force ranging from 0.001 to 2.5 pounds per inch. The laminate advantageously provides the lid for a package and delaminates into a substantially gas-impermeable portion and a gas-permeable portion, with the gas-permeable portion being bonded directly to a product support member of the package. In this manner, the gas-impermeable portion may be peelably removed from the package to allow atmospheric oxygen to enter the interior of the package.