MAP of Dried Fruit and Snacks Whitworths
In the UK, Whitworths produces millions of dried fruit and fruit snacks each week using modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to ensure long product shelf life. Sample packs are tested every hour using a our GS6000 headspace gas analyzer to confirm that the package is reliably sealed and the inert atmosphere is within specification.
Whitworths is the largest processor and packer of dried fruit and snack in the UK. Although best known for its range of dried fruit, Whitworths was originally a flour milling business founded by three brothers in 1886. It was not until the 1950’s that the operation was expanded to include cereals, rice, specialty sugars and the famous dried fruits.
The key to Whitworths’ success was the development of a washing and drying process for dried fruit / snack, using equipment converted from the flour mill. Now the largest processor and packer of dried fruit in the UK, the Whitworths brand is a familiar sight on retailer’s shelves and many “own label” products will have been supplied by Whitworths.
The Application of Modified Atmosphere Packaging
Since the 1950’s, Whitworths has maintained its market leading position by making full use of the latest processing and packaging technology. Today, the shelf life of most products, both Whitworths and own label, is maximized by Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) which uses inert nitrogen to replace most of the oxygen, one of the causes of product deterioration.
Typically, dried fruit is packed in modified atmosphere packaging containing less than 10% oxygen, instant mashed potatoes less than 7% and nuts and other snack less than 5%.
The GS6000 headspace gas analyzer is a critical part of Whitworths’ quality control process
With production approximating one million modified atmosphere packages each week, ensuring that the packs are reliably sealed and that the atmosphere is within specification is a major operation. Whitworths’ quality control laboratory uses a Systech Illinois oxygen headspace gas analyzer to monitor a sampling of the modified atmosphere packs every hour and at each product changeover. Systech Illinois’ oxygen headspace gas analyzers GS6000 is easy to use and is designed to virtually eliminate sampling errors
According to Whitworths’ Quality Controller, the SystechIllinois GS6000 headspace gas analyzer is the ideal instrument for testing the modified atmosphere packages. To test the packages, Whitworths inserts a probe into the pack and presses a button . The result is then shown on the LED display as percentage of oxygen in less than five seconds. Calibration and programming of the Systech Illinois headspace gas analyzer are both very simple and the self-diagnostics and inbuilt sample pump and flowmeter virtually eliminate sampling errors.
As a member of the Campden Laboratories Accreditation Scheme (CLAS), Whitworths needs to maintain its quality assurance to the highest standards. Easy to use, fast and reliable, the Systech Illinois oxygen headspace analyzer ensures that its modified atmosphere packaging is always within specification.
