Aptar Food + Beverage, an Atlanta, Georgia-based developer of food protection solutions and propriety active packaging systems for seafood and fresh produce, has launched its SeaWell Protective Packaging System in more than 3,800 retail store locations, the company announced this month.
Aptar partnered with a leading national retailer to launch the “first-of-its-kind active packaging solution,” which was designed specifically to preserve seafood freshness and quality from sea to table, the firm said. The packaging features integrated technology capable of absorbing excess fluids that would otherwise accumulate around seafood proteins and potentially hasten product breakdown and detriment shelf life.
SeaWell “utilizes a proprietary blend of direct food-contact-safe absorbent materials” that work to trap excess fluids inside patented pockets or wells, according to Aptar. The wells are integrated into the packaging, meaning they are hidden by the seafood product, the company said.
By reducing the rate of microbial growth and chemical degradation, the SeaWell solution drives down overall bacterial count and mitigates cross-contamination, thus enhancing food safety, Aptar explained. A challenge study conducted on scallops supported these claims, with SeaWell packaging providing a 3 log (99.9 percent) reduction in aerobic bacteria through day 13, researchers discovered.
Aptar’s current retail launch partner, whose identity was not disclosed in the company’s press release, said “the innovative packaging system has reduced shrink and improved sales in the category compared to the previous packaging solution.”
SeaWell solutions are available in a variety of sizes, and can be used with fresh and frozen seafood, Aptar confirmed.
“The technology also enables seafood processors to pack frozen for distribution and thaw in the same package for fresh sale to market,” the company said. “This provides both consumers and industrial kitchens with an optimal seafood experience and a pristine case-to-cook product. It enables seafood processors to expand their geographic reach as well as help solve the challenges home delivery and grocery markets face as they rapidly expand their customer base and strive to meet increasing demands for delivering the freshest seafood possible.”
Aptar Food + Beverage Food Protection Vice President and General Manager Neal Watson said SeaWell offers seafood processors an effective solution to some of their longest-held problems.
“For years, the industry has sought measures to improve the freshness and shelf life of shipped seafood, as well as ways to improve consumers’ experiences,” Watson said. “SeaWell helps solve the challenges seafood distributors face. We are excited to be partnering with major industry players to expand the use of SeaWell packaging to provide a safer, more reliable option for increasing seafood consumption across the globe.”
Aptar Food + Beverage is part of AptarGroup, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of a broad range of drug delivery, consumer product dispensing, and active packaging solutions. Headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, AptarGroup has 14,000 dedicated employees in 20 countries.
Photo courtesy of Aptar Food + Beverage