A packaging system for extending shelf life of meat and poultry, the packaging system comprising:
- a retail meat or poultry tray comprising
- a tray with a first set of one or more oxygen scavenger sachets;
- a first CO2 generator;
- and
- an absorbent pad over-wrapped with a gas permeable plastic-based film permitting atmosphere exchange between an interior and an exterior of the meat or poultry tray;
- said first set of one or more oxygen scavenger sachets containing a first iron-based oxygen absorbing material self-activated in an atmosphere of greater than 70% relative humidity;
- and
- said first CO2 generator being activated by injecting a pre-determined amount of water into a first set of one or more chemical containing sachets;
- a first plurality of full poultry birds or bird pieces with a second set of one or more oxygen scavengers sachets and a second CO2 generator, said second set of one or more oxygen scavenger sachets containing a second iron-based oxygen absorbing material self-activated in an atmosphere of greater than 70% relative humidity, said second CO2 generator being activated by injecting a pre-determined amount of water into a second set of one or more chemical containing sachets;
- a second plurality of full poultry birds or bird pieces with a third set of one or more oxygen scavengers sachets, said third set of one or more oxygen scavenger sachets containing a third iron-based oxygen absorbing material self-activated in an atmosphere of greater than 70% relative humidity;
- and
- a master bag containing the retail meat or poultry tray, the first plurality of full poultry birds or bird pieces, or the second plurality of full poultry birds or bird pieces, said master bag flushed prior to sealing to remove oxygenated air from an interior of the master bag to obtain an initial atmosphere equal to or less than 5% oxygen and injected with an oxygen-free, CO2 gas or greater than 50% inert gas;
- wherein an oxygen absorption capacity of the first set of one or more oxygen scavenger sachets, the second set of one or more oxygen scavenger sachets, and the third set of one or more oxygen scavenger sachets are sufficient to achieve a half-life for 5% residual oxygen of equal to or less than 10.0 hours and reach a zero oxygen storage atmosphere within 96 hours after sealing said master bag;
- and
- wherein the first CO2 generator and the second CO2 generator are formed by a combination of malic acid and sodium carbonate to generate an appropriate amount of CO2 in a range of at least 100 mL per pound of meat or poultry within a period of 7 days after sealing said master bag.