The rising threat from bacterial contamination in poultry has prompted US protective packaging supplier Sealed Air (Elmwood Park, New Jersey; www.sealedair.com) to develop a hermetic and leak-proof bag designed for raw chicken to go straight from the supermarket shelf into consumers’ ovens. The packaging means that consumers do not need direct contact with the meat until it is fully cooked. It also protects the fresh poultry from potentially harmful bugs in the journey between the processing facilities and consumers’ homes.

“Cryovac Sealappeal” OSF AW is a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) made from PET coextruded film. It also features a high oxygen content which is able to kill campylobacter bacteria rapidly. Sealed Air said its outstanding sealing performance ensures no drip loss, thus significantly reducing the risk of external contamination of packs through leakages. In addition, the packaging includes a self-venting design that eliminates the need to puncture the bag before roasting, further reducing the risk of cross contamination in the kitchen.

According to Sealed Air, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned earlier this year that some strains of campylobacter have developed resistance to antibiotics. In the UK, a recent survey by the Food Standards Agency found that the proportion of "highly" contaminated fresh roasting chickens had risen by nearly one percentage point to 18.9%.

The “Cryovac Sealappeal” OSF AW packaging extends the shelf life of fresh poultry by up to 12-15 days. In addition, poultry processors can benefit from its high-speed machining ability, resulting in higher efficiency, reduced operating costs and significant energy savings.

Pascal Porhel, Sealed Air’s senior marketing manager, food care, said: “Sealed Air began to collaborate with major European retailers on potential solutions to the growing threat back in Spring 2014 and already, the product is having a positive impact on food safety. These packs are now on the shelves in leading supermarkets, bringing double-digit growth to those who have introduced this solution.”