Myoglobin blooming agents, films, packages and methods for packaging

A food packaging article having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the article comprising:

• a food contact layer comprising a myoglobin blooming agent;
• wherein the myoglobin blooming agent is present on the food contact layer surface in a concentration sufficient to produce a desirable surface coloration of the meat product and prevent undesirable depth of penetration of color into the body of the meat product;
• wherein the myoglobin blooming agent is selected from the group consisting of:
• nitrogen heterocycles, Fremy's salt, nitrate salts having the formula (MNO3), nitrite salts having the formula (MNO2), and combinations thereof, wherein the counter ion (M+) is selected from the group consisting of:
• alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, protonated primary, secondary or tertiary amines, quaternary amines, and ammonium:
• wherein the concentration of myoglobin blooming agent is between 0.001 to 0.900 mg/in2;
• an oxygen barrier;
• and
• wherein the article has a heat shrinkage value of less than 5% in the machine direction at 90° C. and less than 5% in the transverse direction at 90° C. as measured before thermoforming.