Packages and containers comprising salicylic acid chelates as oxygen scavengers

A package for a product, comprising:

• means for retaining the product;
• an oxygen scavenging composition for reacting with oxygen after activation with water or water vapor;
• and a plurality of films with at least one layer of adhesive or binder therebetween;
• wherein at least one film is of a polymer;
• and further wherein said oxygen scavenging composition is present in or on at least one of said films or layers;
• said oxygen scavenging composition consisting essentially of a polymer carrier which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging material of a transition metal chelate or complex of a salicylic acid or a salt thereof, and an ascorbate compound;
• the oxygen scavenging material and the ascorbate compound being dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the carrier in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger, wherein the salicylic acid transition metal chelate or complex is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which is present in or permeates through or into the carrier, and wherein the salicylic acid transition metal chelate or complex is present in an amount of about 0.01 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer carrier, and the ascorbate compound is present in an amount of about 0.001 to 33 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer carrier.

A package for a product comprising:

• means for supporting or retaining the product;
• and an oxygen scavenging composition for reacting with oxygen after activation with water or water vapor;
• said oxygen scavenging composition being in contact with the product or with the environment between the product and the package for scavenging oxygen therefrom, so as to avoid or reduce detrimental effects of oxygen upon the performance, odor or flavor properties of the product;
• said oxygen scavenging composition consisting essentially of a polymer carrier which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging material of a transition metal chelate or complex of a salicylic acid or a salt thereof, and an ascorbate compound;
• the oxygen scavenging material and the ascorbate compound being dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the carrier in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger, wherein the salicylic acid transition metal chelate or complex is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which is present in or permeates through or into the carrier, and
• wherein the salicylic acid salt is selected from the group consisting of:
• ##STR4## wherein Y=Na, K or Ca,
• M=a transition metal, and
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are carbon atoms or part of a benzene ring, and wherein the chelate or complex is present in an amount of about 0.01 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer carrier, and the ascorbate compound is present in an amount of about 0.3 to 33 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer carrier.

A container for a water-containing foodstuff, beverage, chemical or pharmaceutical product comprising:

• means for retaining the product and having at least one opening therein for filling or dispensing of the said product;
• a member for closing the opening and preventing escape of the product when not desired;
• and a liner or gasket comprising an oxygen scavenging composition being positioned adjacent the closing member, wherein the water or water vapor for activating said oxygen scavenging compositions is part of or derived from the product;
• said oxygen scavenging composition consisting essentially of a polymer carrier which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging material of a transition metal chelate or complex of a salicylic acid or a salt thereof, and an ascorbate compound;
• the oxygen scavenging material and the ascorbate compound being dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the carrier in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger, wherein the salicylic acid transition metal chelate or complex is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which is present in or permeates through or into the carrier, and wherein the salicylic acid transition metal chelate or complex is present in an amount of about 0.01 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer carrier, and the ascorbate compound is present in an amount of about 0.001 to 33 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer carrier.

A container for a dry foodstuff, beverage, chemical or pharmaceutical product comprising:

• means for retaining the product and having at least one opening therein for filling or dispensing of the said product;
• a member for closing the opening and preventing escape of the product when not desired;
• and a liner or gasket comprising an oxygen scavenging composition being positioned adjacent the closing member, wherein the water or water vapor for activating said oxygen scavenging composition is separately applied to said composition before the package is sealed;
• said oxygen scavenging composition consisting essentially of a polymer carrier which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging material of a transition metal chelate or complex of a salicylic acid or a salt thereof, and an ascorbate compound;
• the oxygen scavenging material and the ascorbate compound being dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the carrier in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger, wherein the salicylic acid transition metal chelate or complex is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which is present in or permeates through or into the carrier, and wherein the salicylic acid transition metal chelate or complex is present in an amount of about 0.01 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer carrier, and the ascorbate compound is present in an amount of about 0.001 to 33 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer carrier.