Modified atmosphere packaging extends shelf life by _____[Fill in the blank]

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about how Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) extends shelf life in foods.
Option a: 'Adding a preservative to the packaging' suggests chemical additives inside the package, but MAP primarily works by changing the gas environment, not by adding chemical preservatives.
Option b: 'Decrease the water content of food' implies moisture reduction inside the food, which is more characteristic of dehydration or moisture control methods, not MAP. While humidity can influence quality, MAP itself modulates gases, not water activity directly.
Option c: 'Altering gas composition around the food' is the central concept of MAP. By lowering oxygen levels and adjusting levels of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other gases, microbial growth and certain biochemical reactions are slowed, thereby extending shelf life.
Option d: 'Reducing enzymatic browning in food' describes a possible side benefit in some cases, but it is not the fundamental mechanism by which MAP extends shelf life. Enzymatic browning mitigation is more a property of reduced oxygen exposure or added antioxidants, rather than the primary principle of MAP.
In summary, the core principle of MAP is to modify the surrounding gas composition to suppress spoilage pathways, which aligns with option c. The other choices either describe different technologies or describe secondary effects, not the main mechanism of MAP.

Modified atmosphere packaging extends shelf life by _____[Fill in the blank]

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