The changing face of case-ready packaging

摘要

Case-ready meat and poultry packaging is alive and thriving in retail supermarkets and club stores across the nation, according to results from the recently released National Meat Case Study 2007. Conducted for the third time since 2002 by Cryovac/Sealed Air, withrnsupport from the National Pork Board and the National Cattlemen's Beef Assoc. the study is beginning to establish itself as a solid source of trend information on the fresh meat case.rnAmong the study's major findings are that: 1) case-ready meat is continuing to take over the fresh meat case; and 2) that some case-ready packaging formats-modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)rnand vacuum, in particular-have been increasing in use, at the expense of others.rnBut while this data may be an accurate indicator of current technology, it may not tell the whole story. Current forces, such as the rise of sustainable packaging, consumer concern about product safety, and a growing interest in products sourced regionally, are gathering. These forces may change the future composition of the retail fresh meat case.