Antimicrobial packaging films

Abstract

The present invention is directed to packaging films having accelerated migration rates of an antimicrobial agent through a product-contact layer which extends the shelf-life of products packaged therein. The product-contact layer includes an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer having a melt flow index of greater than 6 dg/min at 190 C/2.18 kg, an antimicrobial agent and a wetting agent. In some preferred embodiments, greater than 30% of the initial amount of antimicrobial agent present in the product-contact layer can be released after 21 days upon contact with water. The packaging films can be converted into bags, pillow pouches, stand-up pouches, quad pouches, zipped pouches, over-wraps, lidding films, thermoformed trays, vacuum packages, vacuum skin packaging and the like. These films can be used for any product in which it would advantageous to reduce harmful microbial contaminants.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.