Nitrogen is a colorless, inert gas that is utilized in a number of processes and systems in the food and beverage manufacturing and packaging industries. Nitrogen is regarded as the industry standard for non-chemical preservation; it is an inexpensive, readily available option. Nitrogen is highly suitable for various uses. Varying on the type of use, the distribution channel, and the required purity levels, different testing plans should be implemented to ensure safety.
Uses of nitrogen in the food process
As the food is composed of reactive chemicals, it becomes an essential duty of the food manufacturer and packaging specialists to look out for ways that help in protecting nutrients and make sure the quality of the product remains intact. The presence of oxygen can be harmful to the packaged food as oxygen can oxidize the food and can encourage the growth of microorganisms. Food items like fish, vegetables, fatty meats, and other ready-to-eat food products are susceptible to oxidize quickly. It is widely known that one-third of fresh food does not reach the consumers as it gets spoilt in transportation. Modifying atmosphere packaging is an effective way to make sure that the products reach the consumer safely.
Using Nitrogen gas helps in increasing the shelf life of fresh products. Many manufacturers choose to modify the atmosphere by infusing nitrogen in the packed food because it is an inert, safe gas. Nitrogen has proven to be one of the excellent replacement gas for oxygen gas in the food and beverage manufacturing and packaging industry. The presence of nitrogen in the package ensures the freshness of the food products, protects the nutrients and prevents aerobic microbial growth.
The only complication industrialists face while using nitrogen in the food and beverage industry is to understand the nitrogen and oxygen requirement in the product. Some food products do require oxygen in a small amount to maintain the texture and color. For example, mutton, pork, or beef will look nasty if stripped out of oxygen. In such cases, nitrogen gas of lower purity is used by the industrialists to make the product look pleasant-tasting. However, products like beer and coffee are infused with higher purity nitrogen to make their shelf life longer.
To meet these needs, many industrialists use on-site nitrogen generators over N2 cylinders because on-site plants are cost-effective, safe to use, and provides an uninterrupted supply of nitrogen to the user. If you require any on-site generator for your operations, feel free to contact us anytime.
Post time: Dec-16-2021