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  Packaged products of mushrooms contained in a modified gas atmosphere and methods and apparatus for making the sameUSPTO Application #: 20060159809Title: Packaged products of mushrooms contained in a modified gas atmosphere and methods and apparatus for making the same Abstract: Packaged products comprising (a) a sealed container, (b) mushrooms in the container, and a gas atmosphere, wherein the gas includes about 0% to 5% by volume oxygen, about 1% to 20% by volume carbon dioxide, about 0% to 20% by volume hydrogen and at least about 50% by volume nitrogen is provided. Methods of making extended shelf-life packaged mushroom products and apparatus for packaging the mushrooms are further provided. (end of abstract) Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec - Raleigh, NC, US Inventors: Ipek Goktepe, Omoanghe S. Isikhuemhen USPTO Applicaton #: 20060159809 - Class: 426118000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Food Or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, And Products, Packaged Or Wrapped Product, Packaging Structure Cooperating With Food Generated Gas The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060159809. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/645,381 filed Jan. 19, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally concerns packaged products comprising vegetables and fruits in a modified gas atmosphere to preserve freshness, methods for the production of the packaged products and apparatus for making the packaged products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The market for mushrooms has been growing in recent years. Consumers demand fresh mushrooms not only for their taste, but also for their health benefits. According to one report, 86% and 70% of American families regularly purchase button mushrooms and exotic species, respectively. [0004] Many consumers are interested in the nutritional and medicinal aspects of mushrooms. In particular, mushrooms, especially exotic species, are a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates (especially polysaccharides), vitamins (in particular, B and C vitamins), minerals and are low in fat. Stamets (2000). However, the shelf-life of mushrooms, especially exotic species, is relatively short. Therefore, there is a need to investigate new methods to extend the shelf-life of such mushrooms. [0005] The present invention explores the use of modified atmosphere environments along with refrigeration to extend the shelf-life and preserve the microbial quality of exotic mushrooms for a longer period of time, which may provide a substantial savings for mushroom retailers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] An aspect of the present invention relates to packaged products comprising (a) a sealed container, (b) mushrooms in the container, and a gas atmosphere, wherein the gas comprises about 0% to 5% by volume oxygen, about 1% to 20% by volume carbon dioxide, about 0% to 20% by volume hydrogen and at least about 50% by volume nitrogen. [0007] A further aspect of the invention relates to methods of making extended shelf-life packaged mushroom products, comprising packaging mushrooms in a sealed container together with a gas atmosphere wherein the gas atmosphere comprises about 0% to 5% by volume oxygen, about 1% to 20% by volume carbon dioxide, about 0% to 20% by volume hydrogen and at least about 50% by volume nitrogen. [0008] An additional aspect of the invention relates to apparatus for packaging mushrooms comprising a plurality of processing stations for (a) removing existing air from a package comprising mushrooms and (b) adding to the package a gas mixture which comprises about 0% to 5% by volume oxygen, about 1% to 20% by volume carbon dioxide, about 0% to 20% by volume hydrogen and at least about 50% by volume nitrogen. [0009] The present invention is described in greater detail in the drawings herein and the specification set forth below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1. Graphs presenting data showing aerobic (A) and anaerobic (B) microbial growth in mushroom samples stored under a modified atmosphere containing no oxygen (MA1), a modified atmosphere containing 3% oxygen (MA2) and/or Air (CO). [0011] FIG. 2. Schematic illustrating a multi-step procedure for assembling a packaged product comprising (a) a sealed container, (b) mushrooms in the container, and a gas atmosphere, wherein the gas comprises about 0% to 5% by volume oxygen, about 1% to 20% by volume carbon dioxide, about 0% to 20% by volume hydrogen and at least about 50% by volume nitrogen. [0012] FIG. 3. Schematic illustrating processing stations employed in the stepwise assembly of packaged products comprising (a) a sealed container, (b) mushrooms in the container, and a gas atmosphere, wherein the gas comprises about 0% to 5% by volume oxygen, about 1% to 20% by volume carbon dioxide, about 0% to 20% by volume hydrogen and at least about 50% by volume nitrogen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0013] The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail with respect to other embodiments described herein. It should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. [0014] The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the embodiments of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the phrase such as "about X to Y" means "about X to about Y" and also refers to a range of values from about X to about Y. [0015] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. [0016] It will be understood that steps comprising the methods provided herein can be performed independently or at least two steps can be combined when the desired outcome can be obtained. [0017] Further, embodiments of the present invention may be described herein with reference to illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations from the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular depictions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes, sizes, processes etc. that result, for example, from employing suitable manufacturing techniques. [0018] All publications, patent applications, patents and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Continue reading... Full patent description for Packaged products of mushrooms contained in a modified gas atmosphere and methods and apparatus for making the same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Packaged products of mushrooms contained in a modified gas atmosphere and methods and apparatus for making the same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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