Abstract: Absorbing oxygen from a closed space at a rapid rate, particularly in food packaging, is made possible by introducing an alcohol-water mixture as an activator for iron-based absorber systems, preferably including an acid to control pH. Preferred alcohols are aliphatic alcohols, particularly, monohydric alkanols, such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, sec-butanol and t-butanol. Such absorber-activator combinations are capable of rapidly reducing the oxygen in a closed package. A preferred acid is orthophosphoric acid used in an amount sufficient to establish a pH of about 0.6 to 4. A preferred iron-based absorber system employs sponge iron, optionally including a dibasic acid cooperating with the orthophosphoric acid to control pH in the system. In one preferred embodiment, the iron-based absorber is pre-activated by contacting with the activator in the substantial absence of oxygen for a predetermined period of time.