Innovative Cryovac® Fresh Fish Packaging Featured at the 2004 International Boston Seafood Show

DUNCAN, S.C. (March 14, 2004) - Cryovac Food Packaging Division of Sealed Air Corporation will showcase its new vacuum packaging technologies for fresh fish at the 2004 International Boston Seafood Show. These technologies will be on display in Booth #3631 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston from March 14 to March 16, 2004.

Featured will be the Cryovac 10K OTR bag designed for vacuum packaging fresh fish products. The bag’s highly permeable film has a guaranteed oxygen transmission rate (OTR) greater than 10,000 cc/m2/24 hours, which complies with the Food and Drug Administration’s oxygen permeability guidelines for vacuum packaged fresh fish. Printed on the outside of the package is "Cryovac® 10K OTR" which serves as an alert to inspectors throughout the retail and foodservice distribution systems that the package’s oxygen permeability meets the FDA guidelines. This information may help processors avoid unnecessary and costly distribution delays.

With the Cryovac® 10K OTR bag fish can be quickly deep chilled, in the package, with an ice brine solution. This enables processors to benefit from the efficient cooling provided by wet ice without concern for direct product to ice contact. This quick chilling process reduces quantities of wet ice needed to maintain product temperature during distribution, often resulting in reduced package weights and lowered shipping costs.

The high oxygen permeability of the Cryovac® 10K OTR package promotes fresh-color retention longer in fresh fish like tuna, mahi mahi, tilapia and swordfish. For species such as salmon and tuna, the vacuum package helps prevent discoloration of the meat surface that results from direct contact with water or ice. Vacuum packaging also minimizes cross contamination by reducing routine product handling and limiting exposure to airborne bacteria, helping to extend the product’s quality life. Because of its leak resistant properties the 10K OTR bag keeps any purge with the product, increasing yields.

The Cryovac® 10K OTR Darfresh® vacuum skin package for case ready fresh and frozen fish, and shrimp also will be exhibited in the booth. The Darfresh® package meets the same FDA oxygen permeability guidelines as the Cryovac® 10K OTR bag, resulting in similar benefits, including the ability to quickly deep chill products, help eliminate cross contamination and preserve product color.

The Darfresh® vacuum skin package creates intimate contact between the product and the tray, preventing freezer burn and surface dehydration in frozen product. The greater seal area also keeps any product purge with the product, increasing yields. The Cryovac® 10K OTR Darfresh® package is ideal for marinated or pre-seasoned fish.

Also on display is the Cryovac® Simple Steps™ heat-and-serve package for use with seafood products like filets and shrimp. The seafood is distributed frozen and sold case ready in the same package. The product can be cooked at home in a microwave without removing it from its package. While the technology is more efficient for processors, it also gives shoppers a high-quality entrée that has undergone minimal handling. The unique self-venting Simple Steps™ package eliminates the need to puncture ventilation holes or remove film before cooking in a microwave. Designed with "stay-cool" side handles and easy-open tabs, Simple Steps™ enables entrées to go from the microwave to the dinner table without spills or burns.

In addition, booth visitors will see the Multivac® T200CD, a compact, fully-equipped Darfresh® tray sealer. This cost-effective system is designed to provide processors with a simple entry into producing case ready fresh fish packages using Cryovac® 10K OTR film.

Multivac® is a registered trademark of Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller KG.