Is food safety a concern? Check out our different types of Oxygen Absorbers here.

Reduce food waste by using DX Oxygen Absorber. Food life extenders -- Oxygen Absorber.
Increase the shelf life, quality & safety of your food package. 

 What are Oxygen Absorbers?

Oxygen Absorbers are added to enclosed packaging to help remove or decrease the available oxygen in the package. They are used to help maintain product safety and extend shelf life. There are many types of Oxygen Absorbers available to cover a wide array of applications. 

Benefits of Oxygen Absorbers

· Helps retain fresh-roasted flavor of coffee and nuts

· Prevents oxidation of spice oleoresins present in spices themselves and in seasoned foods

· Prevents oxidation of vitamins A, C and E

· Extends life of pharmaceuticals

· Inhibits mold in natural cheeses and other fermented dairy products

· Delays non-enzymatic browning of fruits and some vegetables

· Inhibits oxidation and condensation of red pigment of most berries and sauces

· Oxygen deprivation contributes to a pest-free environment in museums

What are the main items that affect my food’s shelf life?

There are basically four main items that will affect the duration of how long your stored food will last: the amount of Oxygen contacting the food, the amount of Humidity present inside the container, the amount of Light that the food is exposed to, and the actual room Temperature where the food isstored.

To simplify all of this, here are four easy rules of thumb that you would want to use to ensure the longest shelf life possible for your stored food:

1). Make sure that your stored food is exposed to as little Oxygen as possible (using our high efficient oxygen absorber in our virtually airtight bags will easily solve this issue)
2). Make sure there is as little Moisture or Humidity inside the food’scontainer as possible. (somewhere under 15% is most desirable)
3). Make sure that as little Light as possible reaches your stored food (the special foil layer built into our bags virtually blocks out all the light and easily solves this issue)

How Oxygen Absorbers Work

When an oxygen absorber is removed from its protective packaging, the moisture in the surrounding atmosphere begins to mingle with the iron particles inside of the Oxygen Absorber sachet.

As the oxygen molecules from the moisture interact with the iron (Fe) particles, rust begins to develop. Typically, there must be at least 65% relative humidity in the surrounding atmosphere before the rusting process can begin. To remedy this dilemma, sodium is added to the mixture.

The sodium acts as a catalyst, or activator, causing the iron powder to rust even with low relative humidity. With the conversion of iron and oxygen into a single iron oxide substance, the presence of oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere is dramatically reduced.

The performance of oxygen absorbers is affected by the ambient temperature and relative humidity.

Why Do I Need Oxygen Absorbers?

More than any other atmospheric element, oxygen supports the growth of aerobic microorganisms such as fungi and mold. With the growth of these microorganisms, the integrity of a package is drastically compromised.

In food products, discoloration takes place, rancidity and putrefaction set in, and the possibility of food poisoning is ever present. With historical documents, art and other artifacts, the presence of oxygen contributes to rapid deterioration, mildew, mold and a wide array of other contaminants.

Oxygen Absorbers were designed to protect against such problems. When packaged properly (i.e., an appropriately sized oxygen absorber inside of a high oxygen barrier can or bag), the oxygen level in the surrounding atmosphere is effectively reduced to approximately 0.01%.

There are several different formulations depending on whether food is frozen, refrigerated or destined for long-term storage.