Meat diaper explained

A meat diaper or meat absorbent pad refers to the absorbent pad found in pre-packaged (or case-ready) meats. Its purpose is to absorb the juices released from the meat during storage and transportation, helping maintain the meat's appearance and reduce spoilage.[1] Case-ready meats almost always contain one or two meat diapers which absorb and retain the juices, blood, and other fluids that seep from the meats, which can be messy, may leak, are often contaminated with bacteria, and are generally unsightly for the consumer.[2]

Chilling meat can help reduce the amount of exudate that is released from the meat, which is also known as drip, purge, or weep. However, it is normal for meat to lose 1–2% of its weight due to this liquid loss, while anything more is considered excessive.[3]

In the United States, meat diapers are food contact materials. As such, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, suppliers using them are required to maintain a "Letter of Guaranty" on file.[4]

Construction

Several constructions for meat diapers have been developed.[5] [6] The absorbent pads are typically made from materials such as cellulose, silica gel, sorbent nonwoven fabric, superabsorbent polymers, or other absorptive materials that can hold a significant amount of liquid relative to their size. They are usually covered in a non-toxic plastic wrapping that allows the liquid to seep in and stay trapped within the pad. Antimicrobials are sometimes included.[7] [8] The pads help regulate drip loss, and their size is in part determined by the meat water holding capacity.[9]

Readily biodegradable meat drip pads are available, though in limited use due to their higher costs.[10] While packaging waste is a concern, the main priority for vendors is to minimize food waste caused by spoilage.[11] Active packaging antibacterial indicator absorbent pads that inhibit bacterial growth and visually signal meat deterioration are being explored through the use of nanofibers and silver nanoparticles.[12] [13] [14] [15]

If the absorbent pads are accidentally cooked to the point of melting, the associated meat should not be consumed.[16] [17] If the pads are pre-moistened to add weight to the package, it may be considered to be a form of weight fraud.[18]

Notes and References

  1. News: Dabo . Mohamed . Understanding the functions of an absorbent pad in meat packaging . 29 April 2024 . Packaging Gateway . 11 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Antimicrobial Absorbent Pad for Reducing Bacterial Contamination of Packaged Poultry . USDA . 30 April 2024 . 2016 . 30 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430013929/https://www.nal.usda.gov/research-tools/food-safety-research-projects/antimicrobial-absorbent-pad-reducing-bacterial . live .
  3. Book: Robertson . Gordon L. . Food Packaging: Principles and Practice, Second Edition . 22 September 2005 . CRC Press . 978-0-8493-3775-8 . 341–342 . 1 May 2024 . en . Packaging of Flesh Foods . 26 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210926210300/https://books.google.com/books?id=NFRR6GayR74C . live .
  4. Book: Compilation of Meat and Poultry Inspection Issuances . 1993 . The Service . 30 April 2024 . en. FSIS Directive 7410.1 Rev 1. 7-1-93.
  5. US . 7,799,361B2 . ABSORBENT FOOD PAD AND METHOD OF USING SAME . 2010 . Etchels .
  6. US . 6,171,695B1 . THIN ABSORBENT PADS FOR FOOD PRODUCTS . 2001 . Fontinot . M C .
  7. Fernanddez . A . Reduction of the Spoilage-Related Microflora in Absorbent Pads by Silver Nanotechnology during Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Beef Meat . Journal of Food Protection . 73 . 12 . 2263–2369 . 2010. 10.4315/0362-028X-73.12.2263 . 21219746 . free .
  8. Castrica . M . Antibacterial Effect of an Active Absorbent Pad on Fresh Beef Meat during the Shelf-Life: Preliminary Results . Applied Sciences . 10 . 21 . 2020. 7904 . 10.3390/app10217904 . free . 2434/785180 . free .
  9. Pettersen . MK . Nilsen-Nygaard . J . Hansen . AÅ . Carlehög . M . Liland . KH . Effect of Liquid Absorbent Pads and Packaging Parameters on Drip Loss and Quality of Chicken Breast Fillets. . Foods . 10 June 2021 . 10 . 6 . 1340 . 10.3390/foods10061340 . free . 34200694. 8229185 .
  10. Book: Devine . Carrick . Dikeman . M. . Encyclopedia of Meat Sciences . 22 July 2014 . Elsevier . 978-0-12-384734-8 . 15 . 1 May 2024 . en . Requirements for Overwrapped Packages.
  11. Casson . Andrea . Giovenzana . Valentina . Frigerio . Valeria . Zambelli . Martina . Beghi . Roberto . Pampuri . Alessia . Tugnolo . Alessio . Merlini . Annachiara . Colombo . Lorenzo . Limbo . Sara . Guidetti . Riccardo . Beyond the eco-design of case-ready beef packaging: The relationship between food waste and shelf-life as a key element in life cycle assessment . Food Packaging and Shelf Life . December 2022 . 34 . 100943 . 10.1016/j.fpsl.2022.100943. 2434/937665 . free .
  12. Jiao . Xiangyu . Xie . Jiaxuan . Du . Haiyu . Bian . Xiaochun . Wang . Changtao . Zhou . Liping . Wen . Yongqiang . Antibacterial smart absorbent pad with Janus structure for meat preservation . Food Packaging and Shelf Life . June 2023 . 37 . 101066 . 10.1016/j.fpsl.2023.101066 . 30 April 2024 . 30 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430175059/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214289423000431 . live .
  13. Book: Chelladurai . Vellaichamy . Jayas . Digvir S. . Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Foods and Beverages . 15 November 2018 . CRC Press . 978-1-351-64920-9 . 219–239 . 30 April 2024 . en . Chapter 8. Applications in the Meat industry.
  14. Li . X . Zhang . R . Hassan . MM . Cheng . Z . Mills . J . Hou . C . Realini . CE . Chen . L . Day . L . Zheng . X . Zhang . D . Hicks . TM . Active Packaging for the Extended Shelf-Life of Meat: Perspectives from Consumption Habits, Market Requirements and Packaging Practices in China and New Zealand. . Foods . 19 September 2022 . 11 . 18 . 2903 . 10.3390/foods11182903 . free . 36141031. 9506090 .
  15. He . Y . Li . B . Du . J . Cao . S . Liu . M . Li . X . Ren . D . Wu . X . Xu . D . Development of pH-responsive absorbent pad based on polyvinyl alcohol/agarose/anthocyanins for meat packaging and freshness indication. . International Journal of Biological Macromolecules . 15 March 2022 . 201 . 203–215 . 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.12.171 . 34995663.
  16. Web site: Meat and Poultry Packaging Materials . USDA . 29 April 2024 . Mar 24, 2015.
  17. News: HOUSTON . GILLIE . What's That Absorbent Pad in My Meat Packaging (And What Happens if I Cooked It)? . 29 April 2024 . Simply Recipes . April 24, 2023 . en . 29 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429210119/https://www.simplyrecipes.com/what-s-that-absorbent-pad-in-my-meat-packaging-and-what-happens-if-i-cooked-it-7480893 . live .
  18. Book: Ryan . John M. . Food Fraud . 19 October 2015 . Academic Press . 978-0-12-803398-2 . en . 39 . 3.4.7 Weight Fraud . 30 April 2024 . 6 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240706044035/https://books.google.com/books?id=dpSZBgAAQBAJ&dq=grocery+weight+fraud&pg=PA38#v=onepage&q=grocery%20weight%20fraud&f=false . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Meat diaper".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.