Oxygen adversely impacts food flavor and nutrition. NASA's proposed five-year shelf life for astronaut food requires aggressive measures to minimize oxygen. Previously, NASA packaged foods in containers with a high oxygen and moisture barrier. These materials have limiting properties. They contain a metal layer; therefore, they do not incinerate or melt-compress. As a result, they are a disposal burden. They also have only a three-year shelf life.A printing ink was devised that removes oxygen from sealed containers. The oxygen scavenging ink removes residual oxygen from packaged foods. Oxygen permeating through the package over time is also removed. Oxygen scavenging packages allow non-foil containers, many with secondary uses.
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