Why Are Some Food Packages Bloated? The Surprising Difference Between a Normal Bag of Chips and a Potential Food Safety Warning.

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Not All Food Packaging Is Supposed to Be Puffed Up

Here’s where things get more interesting.

Different foods require very different packaging environments.

Fresh meat, sausages, cheese, ready-to-eat meals, dairy products, and other perishable foods may be packaged using vacuum sealing, modified-atmosphere packaging, or other techniques designed to control the gases surrounding the food.

A package that is intentionally vacuum-sealed may look tight against the food.

Modified-atmosphere packaging, meanwhile, may contain a carefully controlled mixture of gases. The goal is to slow certain quality changes and, depending on the product and process, help extend shelf life.

That means you