Abstract: A transparent, flexible, heat sealable, water vapor barrier laminate, for use in forming a protective package, which is formed from three layers secured to each other by separate layers of laminating adhesive. One outer layer is a protective material consisting of a polyester film; the center layer is a barrier material consisting of a fluid compression rolled, monoaxially molecuarly oriented, high density polyethylene film; and the other outer layer is another protective material consisting of an ionomer film.

Abstract: A flexible pouch for packing under vacuum products having sharp projections, such as projecting bones of meat products. The pouch includes a flexible bag formed of heat sealable, puncture-susceptible sheet material and having a puncture guard element secured to the outer surface of the bag. The puncture guard causes the flexible pouch to be highly resistant to puncture by sharp projections such as sharp bones of meat products. The puncture guard preferably includes a plurality of oriented sheets which are laminated in cross-oriented relationship to each other. The puncture guard preferably has an area less than that of the bag. The bag may be a laminate. The puncture guard sheets may have equal thickness and may be secured to each other as by extrusion bonding. In the illustrated embodiment, the bag and the puncture guard are laminates.