|
The term
‘scalping’, as applied in the food and beverage packaging field, refers
to the process whereby critical flavor components are selectively
removed from the product through adsorption and absoprtion based losses
to the packaging components. Over time, if the absorption ‘scalping’
rates are high enough, through-wall migration loss of aroma volatiles to
the outside environment may become a significant additional flavor
impact factor. As a result of all of the above quality degrading
factors, it is critical that objective, accurate and precise protocols
are available to track the rate of these changes. These protocols can be
utilized to objectively define product shelf life and optimize packaging
design (i.e. maximize targeted barrier characteristics while minimizing
‘scalping’ loss and cross-contamination effects). In addition they can
be utilized, as required, to address consumer complaints. Microanalytics
has been vigorously developing and applying objective, instrument based
protocols to all of the above issues including, in particular, flavor
loss through ‘scalping’ effects.
As shown in the previous sections, for the last 14 years
Microanalytics has been developing, optimizing and using the AromaTrax™
MDGC-MS-O technology to quickly resolve real-world consumer complaints
related to aroma, flavor and odor quality. During that time, hundreds of
projects have been undertaken and successfully addressed. Although a
large percentage of these projects are of a crisis-driven, problem
solving nature another significant category has emerged around the need
for instrument based monitoring of ‘scalping’ effects.
Unfortunately,
flavor ‘scalping’ determination can be a daunting task. Flavor and aroma
characterization is among the most demanding of analytical challenges;
largely resulting from the fact that flavor critical components are
typically present at very trace levels in a complex matrix of low impact
volatiles. The ability to analyze and prioritize the primary aroma and
flavor contributors within any such context becomes extremely important
to address this challenge.
The AromaTrax® technology which
Microanalytics has utilized extensively for crisis-driven problem
solving is equally applicable to the challenges associated with tracking
of ‘scalping’ induced flavor loss effects. Efforts are
currently underway at Microanalytics to develop standardized protocols
addressing a wide variety of packaging materials and products.
|
