Pharmaceutical products use aseptic atmospheric packaging to preserve sterility.
It is a fact of our modern world: we don't eat a lot of food that is grown at home. Many products travel great distances between the source and the consumer. Aseptic atmospheric packaging is a technique for keeping those foods fresh.
History
Aseptic atmospheric packaging has been around since the 1940's, but was not widely used until the 1960's. A package that could protect a product from light, air, moisture or other harmful factors reduced the amount of time it took the product to spoil. This meant that food could stay fresher, longer. Today, several common products such as juice, milk, baby food, soups, pharmaceuticals and many others are packaged this way.
Process
The process starts with sterilization of the product and the package. To avoid contamination, it is carried out by a specialized machine. The product is then packed and sealed in the sterile container and sealed so it is airtight. The entire process is completed under entirely sterile conditions.
Facts
Products sealed this way do not require refrigeration until they are opened, when the airtight seal is broken and the product is no longer sterile.
Tags: atmospheric packaging