Research line
Food preservation
The right gas mixture can slow spoilage and reduce the need for additives. Finding it requires product specific measurement.
Why it matters
Food waste and shelf life are environmental as well as commercial questions. Modified atmosphere packaging can extend the useful life of fresh and prepared foods by changing the gas composition around the product. The effect depends on the food, the packaging, the storage temperature and the microbial community present.
How we approach it
We design and test gas mixtures for specific products. Measurements include colour, acidity, hardness, microbial counts and headspace gas composition. The work is carried out with food companies and research partners, and it includes the development of high CO2 atmospheres for pest control in stored products.
Focus areas
- Modified atmosphere packaging
- Shelf life and quality measurement
- High CO2 atmospheres for pest control
- Gas mixture design for specific products
- Scale up with food companies
Selected project context
The Agri Food laboratory was established as a strategic alliance with IRTA, the Institute of Agro Food Research and Technology of the Government of Catalonia. Projects combine product studies with advice and technical support for food companies.
Related laboratories
Work in this line draws on the following laboratory spaces. Projects may use one or several of them, depending on whether the question is computational, analytical or process based.