Coatings containing surface-reacted calcium carbonate and oxygen scavengers for improving the shelf life of foods - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product comprising a sheet-like element component and an alkaline component. The sheet-like element component comprises a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate, a binder and an oxygen scavenger. The oxygen scavenger is a compound comprising at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups that can be deprotonated by the alkaline component to activate the oxygen scavenger. Further aspects of the invention relate to activated sheet-like elements formed from the kit of the invention, a method for producing the kit for improving shelf life, a method for producing a sheet-like element component, a method for activating a sheet-like element component, a feeding device comprising the activated sheet-like element, a food package comprising the activated sheet-like element, and the use of the kit or the activated sheet-like element in a food package and for extending the shelf life of a food product.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product comprising a sheet-like element component and an alkaline component, activated sheet-like elements formed therefrom, their uses, a method for producing the kit for improving shelf life, and a method for producing the sheet-like element component. [Background technology]

[0002] The presence of oxygen in food packaging can adversely affect the quality of various oxygen-sensitive food products. For example, the presence of oxygen in food packaging is typically associated with flavor loss in freshly roasted products such as coffee and nuts, as well as spices and seasoned foods. Furthermore, oxygen causes the degradation of vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and E, and red pigments in berries, sauces, and meat products. It also promotes the growth of potentially harmful aerobic bacteria, promotes mold growth in cheese and other dairy and bakery products, accelerates browning of fruits and vegetables, and causes rancidity in fats and oils. In juices such as orange juice, oxygen contributes to the degradation of vitamin C. Therefore, the presence of oxygen in food packaging is detrimental to the edibility, nutritional value, texture, aroma, and color of food products, which reduces consumer acceptance and the shelf life of foods. The food industry must also adapt to consumer demand for minimally processed food products that contain few or no additives or preservatives, while maintaining an acceptable or even longer shelf life. This indicates that there is an additional requirement that any technical solution for extending shelf life that is optionally provided does not require a complex packaging system, i.e. the shelf life extending means must be easy to integrate into the packaging system.

[0003] Various approaches are known in the art for reducing the amount of oxygen present in food packages, such as vacuum packaging, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; also known as modified gas packaging), the use of oxygen-impermeable food packaging, or the use of oxygen-scavenging elements. In the case of MAP, a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen (typically containing 30-50% CO by volume) is introduced into the food package. However, residual oxygen concentrations in the package atmosphere may remain as high as 5% by volume due to oxygen contained in the food matrix, oxygen permeation through packaging materials, or poor sealing of the food package. The combined use of oxygen scavengers and MAP can provide desirably low residual oxygen levels (preferably less than 0.5% or even less than 0.1% by volume) within the food package.

[0004] Oxygen scavenging elements are known in the prior art in the form of sachets, carriers, plastic films, labels, or plastic trays. However, sachets can accidentally burst, spoiling the food product with the oxygen scavenger stored therein, or they can be considered "foreign matter," causing the food package to be rejected. Therefore, sachets are not common, for example, in European countries. Alternatively, oxygen scavengers can be integrated into the packaging material. However, conventional film processing techniques, such as casting, extrusion pressing, or pressing, are typically carried out at high temperatures, for example, around 200°C. At these temperatures, the stability of the oxygen scavenger can be adversely affected. Furthermore, oxygen scavengers integrated into films can be less accessible to the contained oxygen, potentially compromising their oxygen scavenging activity.

[0005] Carriers for oxygen scavengers are known in the art. For example, EP 1 550 506 A1 discloses a carrier for oxygen scavengers based on activated carbon and calcium silicate. EP 3 192 850 A1 and WO 2017 / 121675 A1 relate to calcium carbonate-based carriers for oxygen scavenging compounds.

[0006] Most commonly, oxygen scavengers are based on iron powder stored in a sachet. However, they have numerous associated problems. Iron-containing sachets pose health risks to consumers due to accidental ingestion, cannot be used in liquid products, can ignite when heated in a microwave oven, and can be detected by metal detectors in packaging lines. Furthermore, the presence of moisture is required to activate the iron. Therefore, the use of iron-containing oxygen scavengers is typically limited to food packaging whose atmosphere contains at least 65% relative humidity (rH). For use at lower humidities, hygroscopic sodium chloride must be added, however, which ultimately dries out the food product and thus promotes food spoilage.

[0007] As an alternative, palladium-based oxygen scavengers have been proposed, but they are expensive and are inactivated by sulfur compounds, especially those found in meat products. Furthermore, the maximum allowable amount of H2 in a package limits the labeling capacity of these types of scavengers. Sulfite-based oxygen scavengers can contribute to the deterioration of odor and aroma in food products, while aluminum-based oxygen scavengers are prone to inactivation. Additionally, oxidizable polymers have been proposed as oxygen scavengers.

[0008] Additionally, natural compounds, such as polyphenols, plant extracts, tocopherol, and ascorbic acid, have been proposed as oxygen scavengers for food packaging applications. For example, Ahn et al. (Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2016, 44138 doi:10.1002 / app.44138) described that LDPE films coextruded with an oxygen scavenging system consisting of gallic acid (2,3,4-trihydroxybenzoic acid) and potassium carbonate adsorbed oxygen from ambient air at 95% rH. Similarly, Pant et al. (Materials, 2017, 10, 489 doi:10.3390 / ma10050489) disclosed that thermoformed trays with a bio-polyethylene layer containing gallic acid and sodium carbonate adsorbed oxygen from an oxygen / nitrogen mixture (20 / 80% by volume) at relative humidities of 75% rH or greater. Similarly, EP 2 305 375 A1 relates to an oxygen absorbing film comprising a thermoplastic polymer, gallic acid, a transition metal compound, and optionally an alkali carbonate. Korean Patent No. 101935245 B1 relates to an oxygen scavenging film comprising polyethylene, a phenolic compound, and a sodium salt. JP 10-15385 A relates to an oxygen absorbing resin comprising a polymer, gallic acid, and sodium carbonate.

[0009] However, prior art polyphenol-based oxygen scavenger elements are limited to applications in high humidity. Furthermore, the inventors unexpectedly discovered that prior art polyphenol-based oxygen scavengers are inactivated by the presence of carbon dioxide, making them unsuitable for MAP applications. However, MAP is a very common technology, for example, in meat packaging applications, where low residual oxygen levels are particularly desirable, thereby reducing discoloration and microbial contamination of food products. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] In view of the above, there exists a need for a food-safe oxygen scavenger that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and is particularly compatible with low-humidity food packaging and MAP.

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a food-safe oxygen scavenger that effectively reduces the amount of oxygen in a food package, preferably even at low relative humidity and / or in the presence of carbon dioxide. The oxygen scavenger should be easy to handle and easy to incorporate into the food package. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] These and other objects can be achieved by the kit according to the invention, the activated sheet-like element according to the invention, the method according to the invention, the feeding device according to the invention, the food package according to the invention and the use according to the invention.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product, the kit comprising: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is a compound having at least one phenyl ring with at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group; two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are positioned ortho or para to each other on the at least one phenyl ring; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 groups, preferably R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group, or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) pK of 6 or lower b Alkaline components including bases with values.

[0014] The inventors have surprisingly found that the coating layer of the sheet-like element of the kit of the present invention exhibits a specific porous structure due to the interaction of the compounds contained therein. The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a high BET surface area and high porosity, and is particularly capable of accepting an oxygen scavenger. The oxygen scavenger is a polyphenolic compound capable of reacting with oxygen once activated. The amount of binder is selected to allow sufficient adhesion and uniform distribution of the coating layer on the substrate layer, while the pores of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate remain accessible. The relative amounts of the particulate filler, binder, and oxygen scavenger are selected to ensure that the coating layer maintains a porous structure. Thus, an alkaline component intended to be mixed with water to form an aqueous alkaline component can be added to the sheet-like element, and the alkaline component will adhere to the interior of the pores of the coating layer, thereby activating the oxygen scavenger in the sheet-like element by at least partial deprotonation of the phenolic hydroxyl groups. The activated sheet-like element can then be placed in a food package to scavenge oxygen. The sheet-like element can therefore be stored prior to its activation without the need for a hermetic shielding from moisture and / or oxygen, further simplifying its use.

[0015] Additionally, the coating layer is physically separated from the food product and does not contaminate the food product, unlike powders of porous carrier materials loaded with oxygen scavengers, which tend to become scattered throughout the food package. Because the oxygen scavenger does not need to be processed with the polymer mixture in an extrusion process to incorporate it into the package, high temperature processing of the oxygen scavenger and the possibility of leaving portions of the oxygen scavenger inaccessible to oxygen are also avoided.

[0016] Furthermore, the inventors have found that the coating layer's ability to accept large amounts of water from an aqueous alkaline component allows for improved oxygen scavenging activity even at low humidity levels. Moreover, they have unexpectedly found that the activated sheet-like element essentially retains its oxygen scavenging activity in the presence of carbon dioxide and can be used in combination with MAP.

[0017] A second aspect of the present invention provides an activated sheet-like element formed from the kit of the present invention by adding an alkaline component to a coating layer of the sheet-like element component, the activated sheet-like element comprises a reaction product of the at least one oxygen scavenger and the base; Preferably, - adding the alkaline component in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalent, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalent, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalent, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalent, based on the molar amount of the oxygen scavenger; and / or - adding the alkaline component in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight, preferably 20 to 65% by weight, more preferably 35 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating layer; It relates to activated sheet-like elements.

[0018] As outlined above, the activated sheet-like element can effectively scavenge oxygen even at low relative humidity and / or in the presence of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the present inventors have found that it is sufficient to add a relatively small, sub-stoichiometric (i.e., catalytic) amount of base to the oxygen scavenger.

[0019] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 groups, preferably R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 is a group, where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; (h) pK of 6 or lower b providing an alkaline component comprising a base having a value of (i) mixing the alkaline component of step (h) with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water, wherein preferably the pH of said aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, most preferably at least 12; and / or the aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1% to 75% by weight, more preferably 5% to 60% by weight, most preferably 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component.

[0020] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a sheet-like element component, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is essentially a fully deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; and (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; wherein the step (b) of providing at least one oxygen scavenger comprises the following substeps: (b1) providing at least one oxygen scavenger precursor that is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to each other, and R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is a carboxyl group, (b2) providing a basic compound; and (b3) reacting the carboxyl group of the oxygen scavenger precursor in step (b1) with the basic compound in step (b2) to obtain the oxygen scavenger.

[0021] The inventors have found that compounds having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one phenyl ring bearing at least one R group can be used as oxygen scavengers in the present invention. However, it has been unexpectedly discovered that when such compounds contain carboxyl groups (-COOH), as is often the case with naturally occurring polyphenols, these carboxyl groups react with the surface-reacted calcium carbonate of the particulate filler, destroying its pores and reducing the oxygen scavenging activity of the activated sheet-like element thus obtained. The inventors have unexpectedly found that this can be avoided if such carboxyl groups are converted to essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl groups by reaction with a basic compound before being incorporated into the sheet-like element component of the present invention.

[0022] A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for activating the sheet-like element component of the present invention of a kit according to the present invention, said method comprising the steps of: (j) mixing the alkaline component with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water; and (k) applying the aqueous alkaline component to at least a portion of the surface of the coating layer, wherein preferably - adding the alkaline component in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalent, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalent, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalent, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalent, based on the molar amount of the oxygen scavenger; and / or - adding the alkaline component in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight, preferably 20 to 65% by weight, more preferably 35 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating layer; and / or The applying step (k) is carried out by inkjet printing, spraying, coating and / or dipping.

[0023] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a feeder comprising activated sheet-like elements, wherein the feeder protects the activated sheet-like elements from oxygen and preferably comprises a roll, stack, magazine or package, such as a box.

[0024] The sheet-like element of the present invention can be provided in a pre-activated form, where it is protected from oxygen by the delivery device of the present invention.

[0025] A seventh aspect of the present invention relates to a food package comprising an activated sheet-like element of the present invention, wherein a coating layer is present within the food package.

[0026] An eighth aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the kit of the present invention and / or the activated sheet-like element of the present invention in food packaging.

[0027] A ninth aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the kit of the present invention and / or the activated sheet-like element of the present invention for extending the shelf life of food products.

[0028] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the corresponding dependent claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the oxygen scavenging rate (OSR) of activated sheet-like elements containing a gallic acid-based coating layer of the present invention at a coating weight of 22 g / m. The sheets were activated with various aqueous alkaline solutions made from K2CO3, Na2CO3, or NaOH at various concentrations. OSR refers to the total amount of oxygen (in mL) per gram of calcium gallate (CGA) scavenged during the measurement period (in days). [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary continuous laboratory coater for coating sheet-like elements (1=unwinder, 2=hot air dryer, 3=IR-dryer, 4=rod / blade, 5=unwinder (for rod / blade), 6=metering size press, 7=unwinder (for metering size press). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] For purposes of the present invention, the following terms should be understood to have the following meanings.

[0031] A kit that is "suitable for improving the shelf life of a food product" means a kit and its components that, when placed in a food package, do not adversely affect the edibility of the food product contained therein. Accordingly, any compound used in the sheet-like element of the present invention is a food-safe compound, i.e., a compound that does not release any or any significant amount of toxic or harmful substances or pathogenic microorganisms into the food product.

[0032] "Improving the shelf life of a food product" should be understood broadly as retaining at least one of the properties of the food product in a food package, preferably texture, color, taste, nutritional value, and / or edibility, for a longer period of time compared to the same food product in the same food package without the activated sheet-like element of the present invention. The terms "improving," "extending," or "increasing" the shelf life of a food product are used interchangeably herein.

[0033] A "pathogenic microorganism" is understood to be at least one strain of bacteria, and / or at least one strain of yeast, and / or at least one strain of mold that may be present in a foodstuff, which, when ingested, can cause foodborne illness.

[0034] "Surface-reacted calcium carbonate" according to the present invention refers to a process in which natural ground calcium carbonate (GNCC) or precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) is reacted with carbon dioxide and one or more HO + The reaction product of the carbon dioxide treated with an ion donor, where the carbon dioxide is converted to HO + It may be formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or supplied from an external source. + The ion donor is a Bronsted acid and / or an acid salt.

[0035] The "particle size" of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate in this specification refers to the particle size distribution d on a volume basis unless otherwise specified. x (vol) or d x where d x (vol) value is the x volume percent of particles in d x (vol) of diameter. This means, for example, that 20 A value of d (vol) means that 20% by volume of all particles are smaller than that particle size. 50 The (vol) value is the volume median particle size, also called the mean particle size, i.e., the particle size at which 50% by volume of all particles are smaller than and d 98 The (vol) value is called the volumetric top cut particle size, and is the particle size below which 98% of all particles by volume are smaller.

[0036] Volume median particle size d 50 is evaluated herein using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction system. d measured using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction system 50 or d 98The values ​​indicate the diameter value such that 50% or 98% by volume of the particles have a diameter smaller than this value, respectively. The raw data obtained by the measurements are analyzed using Mie theory with a particle refractive index of 1.57 and an absorption coefficient of 0.005.

[0037] When particle sizes are given herein as particle sizes by weight, e.g., d 20 The (wt) value is the particle size below which 20% of all particles by weight are smaller. Therefore, d 50 The (wt) value is the weight median particle size, i.e., the particle size below which 50% by weight of all particles are smaller, and d 98 The (wt) value is referred to as the top cut particle size by weight, the particle size below which 98% by weight of all particles are smaller.

[0038] Median particle size by weight d 50 (wt) and top cut d 98 The particle size (wt) is measured by the sedimentation method, which is an analysis of sedimentation behavior in the field of gravimetry. The measurement is carried out using a Sedigraph® 5120 from Micromeritics Instrument Corporation, USA. This method and instrument are known to those skilled in the art and are commonly used to determine particle size distribution. The measurement is carried out in an aqueous solution of 0.1 wt% Na4P2O7. The sample is dispersed using a high-speed stirrer and ultrasonic treatment.

[0039] "Porosity" or "pore volume", when used in connection with a particulate filler and a surface-reacted calcium carbonate, refers to the intraparticle indented specific pore volume. When used in connection with a coating layer, the term "porosity" or "pore volume" refers to the total indented specific pore volume, which is the sum of the total intraparticle indented specific pore volume, the total interparticle indented specific pore volume and the total occluded indented specific pore volume. In the context of the present invention, the term "pore" should be understood to describe the spaces found between and / or within particles, i.e., the spaces formed by particles when these particles are packed together in closest contact, such as in a powder, a compact or a coating layer (interparticle pores) and / or the voids within porous particles (intraparticle pores), which, when saturated with liquid, allow the passage of liquid under pressure and / or support the absorption of a surface-wetting liquid.

[0040] Throughout this document, the term "specific surface area" (m 2 The term specific surface area (unit: / g) means the specific surface area measured using the BET method (nitrogen as adsorption gas) in accordance with ISO 9277:2010.

[0041] An "oxygen scavenger" in the sense of the present invention is considered to be a chemical or biological compound that has the ability to react with oxygen and thus reduce the oxygen content in the surrounding atmosphere. An "oxygen scavenging element" is considered to be a component, such as a sachet, carrier, plastic film, label, or plastic tray, that contains an oxygen scavenger in either or both of a non-activated and an activated form. For example, sheet-like element components and activated sheet-like elements of the present invention correspond to oxygen scavenging elements. "Oxygen scavenging activity" broadly refers to the ability of an oxygen scavenger or oxygen scavenging element to react with oxygen and reduce the amount of oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere.

[0042] When referring hereinafter to a "sheet-like element," this term should be understood to encompass both the sheet-like element component of the kit and the activated sheet-like element.

[0043] "Relative humidity" means the ratio of the water vapor partial pressure to the equilibrium vapor pressure at the storage temperature of the food product and / or food package, eg, at about room temperature or 5±1°C.

[0044] Where the term "comprising" is used in the present specification and claims, it does not exclude other unspecified elements of greater or lesser functional importance. In the context of the present invention, the term "consisting of" is considered to be one preferred embodiment of the term "comprising of". Where hereinafter a group is defined as comprising at least a certain number of embodiments, it should be understood that this also discloses a group preferably consisting of only these embodiments. Wherever the terms "including" or "having" are used, it is intended that these terms are equivalent to "comprising" as defined above.

[0045] Where an indefinite or definite article is used when referring to a singular noun such as "a", "an" or "the", this includes a plural of that noun unless something else is specifically stated.

[0046] Terms such as "obtainable" or "defined" and "obtained" or "defined" are used interchangeably. This means, for example, that unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the term "obtained" is not meant to indicate that an embodiment must be obtained by the sequence of steps that follow the term "obtained," but that such a limited understanding is always included in the terms "obtained" or "defined" as preferred embodiments.

[0047] When reference is made above or below to preferred embodiments or technical details of the kit of the invention, it is to be understood that, insofar as applicable, these preferred embodiments or technical details also refer to the activated sheet-like element of the invention, the method of the invention, the feeding device of the invention, the food package of the invention and the use of the invention.

[0048] Surface-reacted calcium carbonate The kit of the invention, the activated sheet-like element of the invention, the method of the invention, the delivery device of the invention, the food package of the invention and the use of the invention involve the use of surface-reacted calcium carbonate (SRCC).

[0049] Surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more HO. + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with an ion donor, where HO + They may be formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or may be supplied from an external source.

[0050] In relation to the present invention, HO + The ion donor is a Bronsted acid and / or an acid salt.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is obtained by a process comprising the following steps: (a) providing a suspension of natural or precipitated calcium carbonate; (b) a pK of 0 or less at 20°C a or a pK value of 0 to 2.5 at 20°C a adding at least one acid having a value of (c) treating the suspension of step (a) with carbon dioxide before, during, or after step (b). According to another embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is obtained by a process comprising the following steps: (A) providing natural or precipitated calcium carbonate; (B) providing at least one water-soluble acid; (C) providing CO2 gas; (D) contacting the natural or precipitated calcium carbonate of step (A) with at least one acid of step (B) and CO of step (C); wherein the method is characterized by: (i) at least one acid of step (B) has a pK, relative to the ionization of its first available hydrogen, greater than 2.5 and less than 7 at 20°C; a and the corresponding anion is formed upon loss of this first available hydrogen capable of producing a water-soluble calcium salt; and (ii) after contact of natural or precipitated calcium carbonate with at least one acid, the hydrogen-containing salt has a pK of greater than 7 at 20°C in relation to the ionization of its first available hydrogen; a and if the salt anion is capable of forming a water-insoluble calcium salt, additionally providing at least one water-soluble salt.

[0052] "Natural ground calcium carbonate" (GCC) is preferably selected from calcium carbonate-containing minerals selected from the group comprising marble, chalk, limestone and mixtures thereof. Natural calcium carbonate may also contain further naturally occurring components such as aluminosilicates.

[0053] In general, the grinding of natural ground calcium carbonate can be a dry or wet grinding process, and can be carried out using any conventional grinding equipment, for example, in one or more of a ball mill, rod mill, vibratory mill, roll crusher, centrifugal impact mill, vertical bead mill, attrition mill, pin mill, hammer mill, crusher, shredder, declamper, knife cutter, or other such equipment known to those skilled in the art, under conditions such that grinding occurs primarily as a result of impact with secondary bodies. If the calcium carbonate-containing mineral material is a wet-ground calcium carbonate-containing mineral material, the grinding process can be carried out under conditions such that autogenous grinding occurs and / or by horizontal ball milling and / or by other such methods known to those skilled in the art. The wet-processed ground calcium carbonate-containing mineral material thus obtained can be washed and dewatered by known methods, for example, by flocculation, filtration, or forced evaporation, prior to drying. The subsequent drying step (if necessary) can be carried out in a one-stage process, such as spray drying, or in at least two stages. Such mineral materials also commonly undergo beneficiation processes (eg, flotation, bleaching, or magnetic separation processes) to remove impurities.

[0054] "Precipitated calcium carbonate" (PCC) in the sense of the present invention is a synthetic material generally obtained by the reaction of carbon dioxide with calcium hydroxide in an aqueous environment followed by precipitation, or by the precipitation of calcium and carbonate ions from solution, e.g., CaCl2 and Na2CO3. Further possible methods for producing PCC are the lime-soda process or the Solvay process, in which PCC is a by-product of ammonia production. Precipitated calcium carbonate exists in three primary crystalline forms: calcite, aragonite, and vaterite, and for each of these crystalline forms, many different polymorphs (crystal habits) exist. Calcite has a trigonal structure with typical crystal habits such as scalenohedral (S-PCC), rhombohedral (R-PCC), hexagonal prismatic, tabular, colloidal (C-PCC), and cubic and prismatic (P-PCC). Aragonite has an orthorhombic structure with the typical crystal habit of twinned hexagonal prismatic crystals, as well as a structure with a varied assortment of thin, elongated prisms, curved blades, steeply inclined pyramidal, chisel-shaped crystals, dendrites, and coral- or worm-like morphologies. Vaterite belongs to the hexagonal crystal system. The resulting PCC slurry can be mechanically dewatered and dried.

[0055] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the precipitated calcium carbonate is preferably a precipitated calcium carbonate comprising the mineralogical crystalline forms of aragonite, vaterite or calcite, or mixtures thereof.

[0056] Precipitated calcium carbonate is a mixture of carbon dioxide and at least one HO + Before treatment with the ion donor, it can be ground by the same means used to grind the natural calcium carbonate described above.

[0057] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the natural or precipitated calcium carbonate has a weight median particle size d of 0.05 to 10.0 μm, preferably 0.2 to 5.0 μm, more preferably 0.4 to 3.0 μm, most preferably 0.6 to 1.2 μm, in particular 0.7 μm. 50According to a further embodiment of the invention, the natural or precipitated calcium carbonate is in the form of particles having a top cut particle size d of 0.15 to 55 μm, preferably 1 to 40 μm, more preferably 2 to 25 μm, most preferably 3 to 15 μm, especially 4 μm. 98 The particle is in the form of a particle having the formula:

[0058] The natural and / or precipitated calcium carbonate can be used in dry form or suspended in water. Preferably, the corresponding slurry has a content of natural or precipitated calcium carbonate in the range of 1% to 90% by weight, more preferably 3% to 60% by weight, even more preferably 5% to 40% by weight, and most preferably 10% to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the slurry.

[0059] One or more H3Os used for the production of surface-reacted calcium carbonate + The ion donor is HO under manufacturing conditions. + The acid may be any strong, medium-strong or weak acid that generates ions, or a mixture thereof. According to the present invention, at least one HO + The ion donor is HO under manufacturing conditions. + It may also be an acid salt that generates ions.

[0060] According to one embodiment, at least one HO + The ion donor has a pK of 0 or less at 20°C. a It is a strong acid having the formula:

[0061] According to another embodiment, at least one HO + The ion donor has a pK of 0–2.5 at 20°C. a It is a moderately strong acid with a pK at 20°C a If pK at 20°C is 0 or less, the acid is preferably selected from sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or mixtures thereof. a If is between 0 and 2.5, H3O + The ion donor is preferably selected from H2SO3, H3PO4, oxalic acid or mixtures thereof. Also, at least one H3O+ The ion donor is an acid salt, e.g., Li + , Na + Or K + HSO4 that is at least partially neutralized by the corresponding cation such as - or H2PO4 - , or Li + , Na + , K. + , Mg 2+ or Ca 2+ HPO4 that has been at least partially neutralized by the corresponding cation such as 2- At least one H3O + The ion donor may also be a mixture of one or more acids and one or more acid salts.

[0062] According to yet another embodiment, at least one HO + The ion donor has a pK, relative to the ionization of its first available hydrogen, greater than 2.5 and less than or equal to 7, when measured at 20°C. a A weak acid having a pK value greater than 7, relative to the ionization of its first available hydrogen, when measured at 20°C, and a corresponding anion capable of forming a water-soluble calcium salt. a and the salt anion is capable of forming a water-insoluble calcium salt, and additionally provides at least one water-soluble salt. According to a preferred embodiment, the weak acid has a pK of greater than 2.5 to 5 at 20°C. aPreferably, the weak acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, formic acid, propanoic acid, and mixtures thereof. Exemplary cations of the water-soluble salt are selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, lithium, and mixtures thereof. In a more preferred embodiment, the cation is sodium or potassium. Exemplary anions of the water-soluble salt are selected from the group consisting of phosphate, dihydrogen phosphate, monohydrogen phosphate, oxalate, silicate, mixtures thereof, and hydrates thereof. In a more preferred embodiment, the anion is selected from the group consisting of phosphate, dihydrogen phosphate, monohydrogen phosphate, mixtures thereof, and hydrates thereof. In a most preferred embodiment, the anion is selected from the group consisting of dihydrogen phosphate, monohydrogen phosphate, mixtures thereof, and hydrates thereof. The addition of the water-soluble salt can be carried out dropwise or in one step. If added dropwise, the addition is preferably carried out within a period of 10 minutes. It is more preferred to add the salt in one step.

[0063] According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one HO + The ion donor is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, at least one HO + Ion donors are hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, and oxalic acid; Li + , Na + or K + H2PO4 that is at least partially neutralized by the corresponding cation, such as - ;Li + , Na + , K. + , Mg 2+ or Ca 2+ HPO4 that has been at least partially neutralized by the corresponding cation such as 2- and mixtures thereof, more preferably the at least one acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, and mixtures thereof, and most preferably at least one HO +The ion donor is phosphoric acid.

[0064] One or more H3O + The ion donor can be added to the suspension as a concentrated solution or as a more dilute solution. Preferably, HO for natural or precipitated calcium carbonate. + The molar ratio of the ion donor is 0.01 to 4, more preferably 0.02 to 2, even more preferably 0.05 to 1, and most preferably 0.1 to 0.58.

[0065] Alternatively, natural or precipitated calcium carbonate may be added to the water before being suspended. + It is also possible to add an ion donor to the water.

[0066] In the next step, the natural or precipitated calcium carbonate is treated with carbon dioxide. + When a strong acid such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid is used for the treatment with the ion donor, carbon dioxide is automatically formed. Alternatively or additionally, carbon dioxide can be supplied from an external source.

[0067] H3O + Treatment with the ion donor and treatment with carbon dioxide can be carried out simultaneously, when a strong or moderately strong acid is used. For example, a pK in the range of 0 to 2.5 at 20°C is used. a First, using a medium-strong acid with + It is also possible to carry out treatment with an ion donor, where carbon dioxide is formed in situ, and thus treatment with carbon dioxide does not result in the formation of HO. + This is carried out automatically in conjunction with treatment with the ion donor, followed by an additional treatment with carbon dioxide supplied from an external source.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, HO + The ion donor treatment step and / or the carbon dioxide treatment step are repeated at least once, more preferably multiple times. +The ion donor is added over a period of at least about 5 minutes, preferably at least about 10 minutes, typically about 10 to about 20 minutes, more preferably about 30 minutes, even more preferably about 45 minutes, and sometimes about 1 hour or more.

[0069] H3O + After treatment with the ion donor and treatment with carbon dioxide, the pH of the aqueous suspension, measured at 20°C, spontaneously reaches a value greater than 6.0, preferably greater than 6.5, more preferably greater than 7.0, even more preferably greater than 7.5, thereby preparing surface-reacted natural or precipitated calcium carbonate as an aqueous suspension having a pH greater than 6.0, preferably greater than 6.5, more preferably greater than 7.0, even more preferably greater than 7.5.

[0070] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is the reaction product of natural ground calcium carbonate (GNCC) with carbon dioxide and phosphoric acid, where the carbon dioxide is formed in situ by treatment with phosphoric acid.

[0071] Further details about the production of surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate are disclosed in WO 00 / 39222 A1, WO 2004 / 083316 A1, WO 2005 / 121257 A2, WO 2009 / 074492 A1, EP 2 264 108 A1, EP 2 264 109 A1 and U.S. 2004 / 0020410 A1, the contents of these references being incorporated herein by reference.

[0072] In a similar manner, surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate can be obtained. As can be seen in detail from WO 2009 / 074492 A1, surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate is obtained by reacting precipitated calcium carbonate with HO. +The surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate is obtained by contacting, in an aqueous medium, an insoluble, at least partially crystalline calcium salt of said anion formed on the surface of at least a portion of the precipitated calcium carbonate, with an ion and with an anion capable of being solubilized in the aqueous medium and forming a water-insoluble calcium salt thereof, to form a slurry of surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate, wherein the surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate comprises an insoluble, at least partially crystalline calcium salt of said anion formed on the surface of at least a portion of the precipitated calcium carbonate.

[0073] The solubilized calcium ions are dissolved in HO + corresponds to excess solubilized calcium ions compared to the solubilized calcium ions naturally produced by dissolution of precipitated calcium carbonate by HO. + The ions are provided exclusively in the form of counterions to the anions, i.e., via addition of the anions in the form of acids or non-calcium acid salts, and in the absence of any further calcium ions or calcium ion generating sources.

[0074] The excess solubilized calcium ions are preferably provided by the addition of a soluble neutral or acidic calcium salt, or by the addition of an acid or a neutral or acidic non-calcium salt which generates a soluble neutral or acidic calcium salt in situ.

[0075] Above H3O + The ions may be provided by the addition of an acid or acid salt of the anion, or by the addition of an acid or acid salt which simultaneously acts to provide all or a portion of the excess solubilized calcium ions.

[0076] In a further preferred embodiment of the preparation of surface-reacted natural or precipitated calcium carbonate, natural or precipitated calcium carbonate is treated with one or more HO in the presence of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of silicates, silica, aluminum hydroxide, alkaline earth aluminates, e.g. sodium or potassium aluminate, magnesium oxide or mixtures thereof. +The at least one silicate is preferably selected from aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, or alkaline earth metal silicate. These components are reacted with one or more HO + The ion donor and / or carbon dioxide may be added to the aqueous suspension containing natural or precipitated calcium carbonate prior to addition.

[0077] Alternatively, natural or precipitated calcium carbonate and one or more H₃O + One or more components of silicate and / or silica and / or aluminum hydroxide and / or alkaline earth aluminate and / or magnesium oxide can be added to the aqueous suspension of natural or precipitated calcium carbonate while the reaction with the ion donor and carbon dioxide has already begun. Further details about the preparation of surface-reacted natural or precipitated calcium carbonate in the presence of at least one of the components of silicate and / or silica and / or aluminum hydroxide and / or alkaline earth aluminate are disclosed in WO 2004 / 083316 A1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0078] The surface-reacted calcium carbonate can be kept in suspension and optionally further stabilized by a dispersing agent. Conventional dispersing agents known to those skilled in the art can be used. Preferred dispersing agents are comprised of polyacrylic acid and / or carboxymethyl cellulose.

[0079] Alternatively, the aqueous suspension described above can be dried, which results in solid (i.e., not in fluid form, but dry or containing little water) surface-reacted natural or precipitated calcium carbonate in the form of granules or powder.

[0080] Surface-reacted calcium carbonate is measured using nitrogen and BET methods and is between 20 and 200 m 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g, more preferably 50 to 100m 2 / g. BET specific surface area in the sense of the present invention is defined as the surface area of ​​the particle divided by the mass of the particle. As used herein, specific surface area is measured by adsorption using a BET isotherm (ISO 9277:2010) using nitrogen gas and is expressed as m 2 It is specified in units of / g.

[0081] The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a volume median particle size d of 0.1 to 75 μm, preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 1 to 40 μm, even more preferably 1.2 to 30 μm, and most preferably 1.5 to 15 μm. 50 It is more preferred that the carboxyl group has (vol).

[0082] Furthermore, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a volume top cut particle size d of 0.2 to 150 μm, preferably 1 to 100 μm, more preferably 2 to 80 μm, even more preferably 2.4 to 60 μm, and most preferably 3 to 30 μm. 98 It may be preferable to have (vol).

[0083] d x The value is x% of the particles are d x This means that the diameter is less than d 98 A value of d means that 98% of all particles have a particle size smaller than this value. 98 The value is also called the "top cut." x can be given in volume or weight percent. Thus, d 50 The (wt) value is the weight median particle size, i.e., the particle size below which 50% by weight of all particles are smaller, and d 50 The (vol) value is the volume median particle size, ie, 50% by volume of all particles are smaller than this particle size.

[0084] Volume median particle size d 50 was evaluated using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction system.50 or d 98 The values ​​indicate the diameter values ​​such that 50% or 98% by volume of the particles have a diameter smaller than this value, respectively. The raw data obtained by the measurements are analyzed using Mie theory with a particle refractive index of 1.57 and an absorption coefficient of 0.005.

[0085] The median particle size by weight is determined by the sedimentation method, which is an analysis of sedimentation behavior in the field of gravimetry. Measurements are performed using a Sedigraph® 5120 from Micromeritics Instrument Corporation, USA. This method and instrument are known to those skilled in the art and are commonly used to determine particle size distributions. Measurements are performed in an aqueous solution of 0.1 wt% Na4P2O7. The sample is dispersed using a high-speed stirrer and ultrasonic treatment.

[0086] This method and equipment is known to those skilled in the art and is commonly used to determine particle size of fillers and pigments.

[0087] Preferably, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface area of ​​0.1 to 2.5 cm as determined by mercury porosimetry measurements. 3 / g, more preferably 0.2 to 2.2 cm 3 / g, and even more preferably 0.4 to 2.0 cm 3 / g, most preferably 0.6 to 1.8 cm 3 / g.

[0088] Specific pore volume is measured using mercury intrusion porosimetry using a Micromeritics Autopore V9620 mercury porosimeter with a maximum applied pressure of 414 MPa (60,000 psi) of mercury, equivalent to a Laplace throat diameter of 0.004 μm (approximately 4 nm). The equilibration time used at each pressure step is 20 seconds. Sample material is cut into 5 cm 3The powder is sealed in the chamber and the data are corrected for mercury compression, penetrometer expansion, and sample material compression using the software Pore-Comp (Gane, PAC, Kettle, JP, Matthews, GP, and Ridgway, CJ, "Void Space Structure of Compressible Polymer Spheres and Consolidated Calcium Carbonate Paper-Coating Formulations", Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 35(5), 1996, pp. 1753-1764).

[0089] The total pore volume seen in the integrated intrusion data can be separated into two regions with intrusion data ranging from 214 μm down to approximately 1-4 μm, indicating a strong contribution from coarse packing of the sample between any aggregate structures. Below these diameters, there is fine interparticle packing of the particles themselves. If the particles also contain intraparticle pores, this region is bimodal, and the intraparticle specific pore volume is defined as the specific pore volume of mercury intruded into pores narrower than the inflection point of the bimodal transition. The sum of these three regions gives the total pore volume of the powder, but is heavily influenced by the precipitation of powder at the coarse pore end of the original sample compaction / distribution.

[0090] Taking the first derivative of the cumulative intrusion curve reveals a pore size distribution based on the equivalent Laplace diameter, which necessarily includes pore shielding. The derivative curve clearly shows the coarse aggregate pore structure region, the interparticle pore region, and, if present, the intraparticle pore region. Once the intraparticle pore size range is known, it is possible to subtract the remaining interparticle and interaggregate pore volumes from the total pore volume to obtain only the desired pore volume of the internal pores as pore volume per unit mass (specific pore volume). Of course, the same subtraction principle applies to isolating any other pore size region of interest.

[0091] The intraparticle pore size of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is preferably in the range of 0.004 to 1.6 μm, more preferably 0.005 to 1.3 μm, particularly preferably 0.006 to 1.15 μm, and most preferably 0.007 to 1.0 μm, as determined by mercury porosimetry.

[0092] In an exemplary embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is 20 to 200 m 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g, more preferably 50 to 100m 2 / g, and a volume median particle size d of 0.1 to 75 μm, preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 1 to 40 μm, even more preferably 1.2 to 30 μm, and most preferably 1.5 to 15 μm. 50 (vol).

[0093] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with an ion donor, where HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and one or more HO + The ion donor is phosphoric acid.

[0094] Thus, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with an ion donor, where HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and one or more HO + The ion donor is phosphoric acid, and this surface-reacted calcium carbonate is 20 to 200 m 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g, more preferably 50 to 100m 2 / g, and a volume median particle size d of 0.1 to 75 μm, preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 1 to 40 μm, even more preferably 1.2 to 30 μm, and most preferably 1.5 to 15 μm. 50 (vol).

[0095] The surface-reacted calcium carbonate may be one or a mixture of one or more different types of surface-reacted calcium carbonate. In one embodiment of the present invention, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate comprises one type of surface-reacted calcium carbonate, and preferably consists of one type of surface-reacted calcium carbonate. Alternatively, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate comprises two or more types of surface-reacted calcium carbonate, and preferably consists of two or more types of surface-reacted calcium carbonate. For example, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate comprises two or three types of surface-reacted calcium carbonate, and preferably consists of two or three types of surface-reacted calcium carbonate. Preferably, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate comprises one type of surface-reacted calcium carbonate, and more preferably consists of one type of surface-reacted calcium carbonate.

[0096] It should be understood that the surface-reacted calcium carbonate described herein, when present in the coating layer of the present invention in any of its aspects, has pores that can accommodate a suitable amount of oxygen scavenger. Furthermore, some of the intra-particle, inter-particle and coarse aggregate pores of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate are accessible to an aqueous alkaline composition, thereby allowing the sheet-like element to be easily activated by application of a sufficient amount of the aqueous alkaline composition.

[0097] Granular filler The kit of the invention, the activated sheet-like element of the invention, the method of the invention, the supply device of the invention, the food package of the invention and the use of the invention employ a granular filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of granular filler, where surface-reacted calcium carbonate is as defined above.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the at least one particulate filler, and most preferably the particulate filler consists of surface-reacted calcium carbonate.

[0099] Thus, the particulate filler may comprise up to 50% by weight, preferably up to 30% by weight, more preferably up to 10% by weight of at least one further particulate filler material, wherein the at least one further particulate filler material has a weight median particle size d in the range of 0.1 to 75 μm, preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 1 to 40 μm, even more preferably 1.2 to 30 μm, and most preferably 1.5 to 15 μm. 50 It is preferred that the compound has the following structure:

[0100] In another embodiment of the present invention, the granular filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of granular filler, and at least one additional granular filler material selected from the group consisting of dolomite, ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, talc, gypsum, titanium dioxide, kaolin, silicates, mica, barium sulfate, calcined clay, uncalcined (hydrous) clay, bentonite, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the at least one additional granular filler is selected from ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof. In this embodiment, it is particularly preferred that the granular filler consists of at least one additional granular filler material and surface-reacted calcium carbonate. Thus, the granular filler preferably consists of surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 70% by weight, and more preferably at least 90% by weight, based on the total amount of granular filler, and at least one additional granular filler material selected from ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

[0101] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ground or precipitated calcium carbonate has a weight median particle size d of 0.05 to 10.0 μm, preferably 0.2 to 5.0 μm, more preferably 0.4 to 3.0 μm, most preferably 0.6 to 1.2 μm, in particular 0.7 μm. 50 According to a further embodiment of the invention, the natural or precipitated calcium carbonate has a top cut particle size d by weight of 0.15 to 55 μm, preferably 1 to 40 μm, more preferably 2 to 25 μm, most preferably 3 to 15 μm, especially 4 μm. 98 The particle is in the form of a particle having the formula:

[0102] polymer binder The kit of the invention, the activated sheet-like element of the invention, the method of the invention, the feeding device of the invention, the food package of the invention and the use of the invention employ a polymeric binder.

[0103] Any suitable polymer binder can be used in the coating layer of the present invention, where the binder according to the present invention should preferably be swellable. Those skilled in the art will know how to provide a suitable swellable binder, e.g., a swellable latex. The binder should be selected so that it does not block the pores of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate and so that the pores of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate remain accessible to the oxygen scavenger and aqueous alkali component.

[0104] For example, the polymeric binder may be a hydrophilic polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, cellulose ethers, polyoxazolines, polyvinylacetamides, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate / vinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamides, polyalkylene oxides, sulfonated or phosphated polyesters and polystyrenes, casein, zein, albumin, chitin, chitosan, dextran, pectin, collagen derivatives, collodion, agar, arrowroot, guar, carrageenan, starch, tragacanth, xanthan, alginates or rhamsan, and mixtures thereof. Other binders, such as hydrophobic materials, can also be used, such as poly(styrene-co-butadiene), polyurethane latex, polyester latex, poly(n-butyl acrylate), poly(n-butyl methacrylate), poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), copolymers of n-butyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate, copolymers of vinyl acetate and n-butyl acrylate, and mixtures thereof. Further examples of suitable binders are homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic acid and / or methacrylic acid, itaconic acid and acid esters, such as ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, styrene, unsubstituted or substituted vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, ethylene, butadiene, acrylamide and acrylonitrile, silicone resins, water-dilutable alkyd resins, acrylic / alkyd resin combinations, natural oils, such as linseed oil, and mixtures thereof.

[0105] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polymeric binder is an alkali-swellable binder. In the context of the present invention, an alkali-swellable binder is understood to be a polymeric binder that exhibits a significant increase in its Brookfield viscosity as the pH value increases. Preferably, the viscosity of an aqueous solution comprising 50% by weight of alkali-swellable binder, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, and having a pH of 4, increases by at least 100%, preferably at least 250%, more preferably at least 500%, and most preferably at least 750% as the pH value of the aqueous solution increases from 4 to 10, as measured with a Brookfield DV III Ultra viscometer at 100 rpm and 24°C ± 3°C using the appropriate spindle of a Brookfield RV-spindle set. A preferred alkali-swellable binder is polyacrylic acid or a salt or derivative thereof.

[0106] According to a preferred embodiment, the polymeric binder is selected from polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, proteins, polyvinyl alcohol, styrene butadiene latex, styrene acrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyolefins, ethylene acrylate, microfibrillated cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, nanocellulose, cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, biolatex or mixtures thereof, more preferably the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, proteins, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate and mixtures thereof, most preferably the polymeric binder is polyacrylic acid or a salt or derivative thereof.

[0107] The polymer binder is contained in the coating layer of any one of the embodiments of the present invention in an amount of 5 to 25 wt %, preferably 10 to 20 wt %, and more preferably 12 to 18 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0108] To obtain a coating layer that can spread evenly over and adhere to the substrate layer, a polymer binder is added. The amount of polymer binder added is selected to be high enough to allow sufficient bonding and adhesion of the layer, but low enough not to block or clog the pores of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate. To further improve adhesion, a primer layer can be provided between the substrate layer and the coating layer, as described below.

[0109] Furthermore, the binder allows the coating layer of any one of the embodiments of the present invention to be fixed onto the substrate layer, for example, by a coating process, and is therefore selected to prevent the coating layer from peeling off, for example, during storage, during loading with an aqueous alkaline component, and / or during use of the sheet-like element or food package.

[0110] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the polymeric binder is selected from polyacrylic acid, a salt thereof, a derivative thereof, starch, a protein, polyvinyl alcohol, styrene butadiene latex, styrene acrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyolefin, ethylene acrylate, microfibrillated cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, nanocellulose, cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, biolatex or a mixture thereof, more preferably the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, a salt thereof, a derivative thereof, starch, a protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate and a mixture thereof, most preferably the polymeric binder is polyacrylic acid or a salt or derivative thereof; and the polymeric binder is contained in the coating layer of any one of the aspects of the present invention in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, preferably 10 to 20 wt. %, more preferably 12 to 18 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0111] oxygen scavengers The kit of the present invention, the activated sheet-like element of the present invention, the method of the present invention, the delivery device of the present invention, the food package of the present invention and the use of the present invention employ an oxygen scavenger, which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring with at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to each other; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 is selected from the group consisting of groups. where: Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond; -R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group. Particularly preferably, R 1 is essentially a fully deprotonated carboxyl group.

[0112] In a preferred embodiment, R is -YR as defined above. 1 It is the base.

[0113] "Phenolic hydroxyl group" means a hydroxyl group (-OH) that is directly attached to an aryl ring.

[0114] In the context of the present invention, two substituents located on the phenyl ring at the "ortho" position mean that the two substituents are attached to the phenyl ring at the 1,2-position relative to each other. Similarly, two substituents located on the phenyl ring at the "para" position mean that the two substituents are attached to the phenyl ring at the 1,4-position relative to each other. This relative positioning of the phenolic hydroxyl groups ensures that the oxygen scavenger is easily oxidizable, since it can form a quinoid system.

[0115] The -CH=CH- group may be in the cis or trans configuration or a mixture thereof, preferably in the trans configuration.

[0116] An amino group within the meaning of the present invention is a functional group -NH2, in which optionally one or both of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by one or two organyl groups selected independently of each other.

[0117] Alkyl groups in the sense of the present invention mean linear or branched saturated organic compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen, having 1 to 28, preferably 8 to 26, more preferably 14 to 22, and most preferably 16 to 20 carbon atoms.

[0118] An aryl group in the sense of the present invention is a phenyl group optionally further substituted with one or more organyl groups and / or one or more functional groups.

[0119] An "organyl group" in the sense of the present invention is any organic substituent having one free valence at a carbon atom, regardless of functionality, such as CH3CH2-, ClCH2-, CH3C(=O)-, 4-pyridylmethyl- (see IUPAC Gold Book, https: / / doi.org / 10.1351 / goldbook.O04329).

[0120] By "functional group" is meant any substituent other than hydrogen, halide, or organyl group, especially hydroxyl, amino, thiol, organyloxy, organylthio, phosphonic acid, phosphine, and sulfonic acid groups.

[0121] An "alkoxycarbonyl group" is -C(=O)-OR 2 R 2 represents an alkyl group, more preferably a methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, 2-ethylhexyl, octyl or dodecyl group.

[0122] An "aryloxycarbonyl group" is -C(=O)-OR 3 R 3 represents an aryl group, preferably a phenyl group.

[0123] An "essentially fully deprotonated" carboxyl group refers to a group derived from a free carboxylic acid (-C(=O)-OH) in which the hydrogen atoms have been essentially completely replaced with counterions, e.g., by reaction with a base. The terms "essentially fully substituted" or "essentially fully deprotonated" mean that at least 50 mole percent, preferably at least 80 mole percent, more preferably at least 90 mole percent, even more preferably at least 95 mole percent, and most preferably at least 98 mole percent of the hydrogen atoms of the carboxyl group have been replaced with the counterion. An essentially fully deprotonated carboxyl group can be represented as -C(=O)-O(H / M), where M represents the counterion.

[0124] The counter ion is preferably selected from the group consisting of ammonium ions, sodium ions, lithium ions, potassium ions, cesium ions, magnesium ions, calcium ions, and mixtures thereof, more preferably a cation preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium ions, potassium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions, and mixtures thereof, and most preferably a calcium cation.

[0125] For purposes of this invention, ammonium ion is NH4 + ammonium ions, primary ammonium ions, secondary ammonium ions, tertiary ammonium ions, and quaternary ammonium ions, preferably NH4 + is.

[0126] In other words, at least one oxygen scavenger of the present invention is a compound according to one of the following two formulas (1) and (2): [ka] In the formula, A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halide group, an organyl group and a functional group, and / or A 1 ~A 4 Two adjacent groups of A are bonded to form a fused ring, 1 ~A 4 is R as defined above.

[0127] Halide groups within the meaning of the present invention are fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine groups.

[0128] A fused ring is understood to mean a new ring formed from two adjacent groups, which ring shares two carbon atoms and one bond with the phenyl ring shown in formula (1) or (2). Preferably, the two adjacent groups are selected from the group consisting of -CH=CH-CH=CH-, -C(=O)-O-CH-CH-, -C(=O)-O-CH=CH-, -C(=O)-CH-CH(CH)-O- and -C(=O)-CH=C(CH)-O-.

[0129] Preferably, at least one oxygen scavenger of the present invention is a compound according to formula (1) or (2), wherein A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 is A 1 ~A 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy and alkyl groups, provided that at least one of them is R as defined above. The alkyl group is preferably a methyl group, and the alkoxy group is preferably a methoxy group.

[0130] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of phenolic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, cinnamic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, and mixtures thereof.

[0131] "Phenol acids" in the sense of the present invention are aromatic compounds containing a carboxylic acid group attached to an aryl ring and at least one phenolic hydroxyl group. "Cinnamic acids" in the sense of the present invention contain a 3-phenylprop-2-enoic acid skeleton.

[0132] Thus, a "phenolic acid derivative having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another" is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one group R, wherein two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are arranged on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to one another, and R is -YR 1 group, Y is a direct bond, and R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, or an essentially fully deprotonated carboxyl group.

[0133] Similarly, a "cinnamic acid derivative having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another" is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one group R, wherein two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are arranged on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to one another, and R is -YR 1 group, Y is a -CH=CH- group, and R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, or an essentially fully deprotonated carboxyl group.

[0134] Thus, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) derivatives, digallic acid (3,4-dihydroxy-5-[(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy]benzoic acid) derivatives, protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) derivatives, caffeic acid (3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid) derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid (3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid) derivatives, gentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) derivatives, and mixtures thereof.

[0135] The term "acid derivative" in this context means that at least one oxygen scavenger contains an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, or an essentially fully deprotonated carboxyl group of the aforementioned acids, i.e., the acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids.

[0136] More preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative, preferably selected from the group consisting of essentially fully deprotonated gallic acid, ethyl gallate, propyl gallate, octyl gallate, and dodecyl gallate, and most preferably essentially fully deprotonated gallic acid. Gallic acid derivatives are safe for use in food and are approved in the European Union under the European Union E numbers E310 to E313.

[0137] Thus, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the at least one oxygen scavenger is essentially fully deprotonated gallic acid containing a cation, wherein the cation is preferably selected from the group consisting of ammonium ions, sodium ions, lithium ions, potassium ions, cesium ions, magnesium ions, calcium ions, and mixtures thereof, preferably a cation preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium ions, potassium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions, and mixtures thereof, and most preferably a calcium cation.

[0138] Base material layer The kit of the invention, the activated sheet-like element of the invention, the method of the invention, the feeding device of the invention, the food package of the invention and the use of the invention employ a substrate layer.

[0139] The coating layer of the present invention is fixed on the substrate layer, for example, by an application process as described below. The coating layer of the present invention is fixed so as not to delaminate, for example, during storage, the application of aqueous alkaline components, and / or the use of the sheet-like element. Those skilled in the art know how to match a given substrate layer with the coating layer of the present invention by selecting an appropriate polymer binder as described above and / or by providing a primer layer as described below. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to any particular substrate layer.

[0140] The substrate layer may include one or more individual substrate layers, i.e., the substrate layer may have a single-layer or multi-layer structure. When the substrate layer includes two or more individual substrate layers, the individual substrate layers may be made of the same or different materials. There is no limitation on the thickness of a substrate layer and / or multiple individual substrate layers. For example, a substrate layer may have a thickness within the range of 1 μm to 10 mm, preferably 10 μm to 1 mm, more preferably 20 μm to 0.5 mm, for example, 50 to 150 μm. For example, multiple individual substrate layers may have a thickness within the range of 1 μm to 10 mm, preferably 10 μm to 1 mm, more preferably 20 μm to 0.5 mm, for example, 50 to 150 μm.

[0141] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the selected individual substrate layer or layers are selected from the group consisting of polymeric material layers. Suitable polymeric materials are those listed in Title 21, Chapter 177 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

[0142] Preferably, the polymeric material layer is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyrate, polyethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate or polystyrene, a fibrous material layer, more preferably a fibrous material layer made of viscose, cellulose acetate, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate, a paper layer, a cardboard layer, a textile layer, a nonwoven fabric layer, a layer made of biomaterials, a wood layer, a bamboo layer, a metal foil layer, an aluminum layer, a print-receptive coating layer, and mixtures thereof. One or more individual substrate layers are optionally subjected to a corona treatment.

[0143] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more individual substrate layers are polymeric material layers. The polymeric material layers can be provided in the form of a sheet or film. The polymeric material layers can be made of any polymeric material of natural or synthetic origin, preferably polyethylene (e.g., linear low-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, or high-density polyethylene), polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylidene dichloride, polymethyl methacrylate, biaxially oriented polypropylene, ethylene and propylene copolymers, polystyrene, polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, copolymers of ethylene terephthalate and ethylene isophthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate), biaxially oriented polyester (e.g., biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate), polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate, cellophane, or a mixture thereof. More preferably, the polymeric material layers are made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate, polystyrene, or a mixture thereof.

[0144] The polymeric material layer can be manufactured by any method known to those skilled in the art, such as an extrusion process, a co-extrusion process, a casting process, a calendaring process, a solution deposition process, or a skiving process. A substrate layer comprising two or more individual polymeric material layers can be manufactured by a lamination process or an extrusion coating process. A substrate layer comprising at least one individual polymeric material layer and at least one different individual substrate layer can be manufactured by a coating process or a lamination process, or, if at least one different individual substrate layer is made of metal, by a vapor deposition process.

[0145] In another embodiment of the present invention, one or more individual substrate layers are fibrous layers. The fibrous layers may be woven, textile, or fabric layers formed from filaments, yarns, threads, or staple fibers, for example, by weaving, knitting, braiding, crocheting, knotting, or felting. For example, the individual substrate layers may be nonwoven layers. The manufacture of nonwoven fibrous layers includes web-forming processes such as dry-laying, air-laying, wet-laying, spun-laying, melt-blowing, and submicron spinning, and web-bonding processes such as calendaring, air-through bonding, needle-punching, hydroentanglement, stitch bonding, and chemical bonding, and optionally includes finishing processes such as embossing, stretching, perforating, crimping, or coating.

[0146] The textile layer may be made of any polymeric material of natural or synthetic origin, such as wool, flax, cotton, hemp, sisal, mineral fibers, viscose, cellulose acetate, polyethylene, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid or mixtures thereof, preferably the textile layer may be made of viscose, cellulose acetate, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid or mixtures thereof. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, one or more individual substrate layers are paper or cardboard layers that include cellulose fibers, for example, formed from wood pulp, and can further include additives, for example, those listed in Title 21, Chapter 176 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

[0147] In yet another embodiment, one or more individual substrate layers are layers made of biomaterials. In the context of the present invention, the term "bio-based" material is defined according to European Standard EN 16575:2014 and refers to materials derived from biomass, i.e., materials of living origin, excluding materials embedded in geological formations and / or fossilized materials. In the production of biomaterials, the biomass may have undergone physical, chemical, or biological treatment. Suitable layers therefore include wood layers, bamboo layers, paper layers, cardboard layers, and layers made of biopolymers, such as polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate, or polyhydroxybutyrate.

[0148] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the individual substrate layers is a metal foil layer, such as a tin or aluminum layer, which can be formed by forging or rolling, or can be deposited on the different individual substrate layers by metal vapor deposition.

[0149] In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more individual substrate layers are print-receptive coating layers. The print-receptive coating can contain an inorganic pigment, such as calcium carbonate or kaolin, and a binder, such as the polymer binder described above. Optionally, the print-receptive coating layer can contain a cationic dye fixative, such as a water-soluble metal salt, preferably sodium chloride, aluminum sulfate, calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride, or polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride. Thus, the sheet-like element can be printed with patterns, logos, text, or other information, for example, by offset printing or inkjet printing. Preferably, the ink-receptive coating layer is located on the sheet-like element opposite the coating layer.

[0150] The substrate layer can be evenly coated with the coating layer of the present invention. Therefore, optimal adhesion of the coating layer to the substrate layer can be achieved regardless of the material of the food package. The sheet-like element component thus obtained can carry an aqueous alkaline component and can be roughly placed in, for example, a food package. Furthermore, the substrate layer allows for "additional functionality" of the sheet-like element, such as receiving additional printed information, receiving an adhesive layer for reversible or irreversible fixation of the sheet-like element within the food package, or receiving a spoilage indication label.

[0151] Coating layer The kit of the invention, the activated sheet-like element of the invention, the method of the invention, the delivery device of the invention, the food package of the invention and the use of the invention employ a coating layer.

[0152] The coating layer comprises a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, a polymer binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer. The particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50 wt %, based on the total amount of the particulate filler, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more HO. + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and this carbon dioxide is converted into HO + The surface-reacted calcium carbonate, formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or supplied from an external source, has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 m, as measured by the BET method. 2 / g.

[0153] It is recognized that the particulate filler, surface-reacted calcium carbonate, at least one oxygen scavenger, and polymeric binder are described above.

[0154] In a preferred embodiment, the coating layer comprises a polymer binder in an amount of 10 to 20 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and / or a particulate filler in an amount of 30 to 60 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and / or an oxygen scavenger in an amount of 30 to 60 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0155] Additionally, the coating layer may contain additional additives, such as rheology modifiers, viscosity enhancers, wetting agents, waxes, antistatic agents, and / or antifoaming agents. Suitable viscosity modifiers include thickeners.

[0156] In one embodiment of the present invention, the viscosity modifier is selected from the group consisting of starch, modified starch, maltodextrin, dextran, vegetable gum, pectin, protein (e.g., collagen, egg white, gelatin, casein, albumin), arrowroot, corn starch, arrowroot starch, dogtooth starch, potato starch, sago, wheat flour, almond flour, tapioca, konjac, aiyu jelly, arginine (e.g., alginic acid, sodium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate, calcium alginate, and propylene glycol alginate), guar gum, locust bean gum, oat gum, xanthan gum, acacia gum, karaya gum, tara gum, gellan gum, gutte The viscosity modifier may be selected from the group consisting of gum agar, gum arabic, baker's yeast glycan, arabinogalactan, tragacanth, cellulose, cellulose derivatives (e.g., carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, ethylmethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, croscarmellose), pectin, carrageenan, modified Eucheuma muriatica, curdlan, konjac gum, cassia gum, fumed silica, polyacrylic acid, saccharified gelatin gel, and / or salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the viscosity modifier is a compound approved for use in foodstuffs by the Scientific Committee on Food and / or the European Food Safety Authority.

[0157] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the viscosity modifier is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, starch, cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, pectin, carrageenan, agar, salts thereof, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof.

[0158] The coating layer may contain further additives in an amount of 0.05 to 5.0 wt %, preferably 0.1 to 2.0 wt %, more preferably 0.2 to 1.0 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0159] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coating layer contains a dispersant.

[0160] In one embodiment of the present invention, the dispersant is selected from the group comprising homopolymers or copolymers of polycarboxylic acids and / or their salts and / or derivatives, for example based on acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid or itaconic acid, and acrylamide, or mixtures thereof. Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic acid and / or its salts and / or derivatives are particularly preferred. The molecular weight M of such products is w is preferably in the range of 1000 to 15000 g / mol, and the molecular weight M of 1500 to 6000 g / mol w are particularly preferred. The molecular weight of the dispersant is selected so that the dispersant acts as a separating agent rather than a binder. The polymers and / or copolymers may be neutralized with monovalent and / or polyvalent cations or may have free acid groups. Suitable monovalent cations include, for example, sodium ions, lithium ions, potassium ions, or ammonium ions. Suitable polyvalent cations include, for example, calcium ions, magnesium ions, strontium ions, or aluminum ions. A combination of sodium ions and magnesium ions is particularly preferred.

[0161] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dispersant is selected from the group consisting of starch, carboxymethylcellulose, glycols, polyglycols, such as polyethylene glycol, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-ethylene oxide block copolymers, sodium polyphosphate and / or polyaspartic acid and their alkali and / or alkaline earth metal salts, sodium citrate and amines, alkanolamines, such as triethanolamine and triisopropanolamine, and mixtures thereof. It is also possible to use other monomers or polymeric additives, such as ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, alone or in combination. The ratio of acrylic acid monomer to ethylene monomer in the copolymer is preferably 1:4 to 1:50, particularly preferably 1:4 to 1:10, and in particular 1:5. Dispersants based on organometallic compounds can also be used. However, any other dispersant can also be used.

[0162] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispersant is selected from polyacrylic acid having a molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 15000 g / mol, its salts, its derivatives, starch, carboxymethylcellulose, or mixtures thereof. More preferably, the dispersant is polyacrylic acid partially or fully neutralized with alkali metal ions such as lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium, and mixtures thereof, preferably sodium, and having a molecular weight in the range of 1500 to 6000 g / mol.

[0163] For the purposes of the present invention, the term "partially neutralized" means that at least 10 mol%, preferably at least 25 mol%, and more preferably at least 50 mol% of the hydrogen atoms of the carboxyl groups of the polyacrylic acid are replaced with alkali metal ions. For the purposes of the present invention, the term "fully neutralized" means that at least 90 mol%, preferably at least 95 mol%, more preferably at least 98 mol%, and most preferably 99 mol% of the hydrogen atoms of the carboxyl groups of the polyacrylic acid are replaced with alkali metal ions.

[0164] More preferably, the dispersant is a polyacrylic acid that is partially or fully neutralized with sodium ions and has a molecular weight in the range of 1500 to 6000 g / mol. The coating layer may contain the dispersant in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 7% by weight, more preferably 1.0 to 4% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0165] A dispersant may be included in the coating layer to improve uniform distribution of the particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate throughout the coating layer and to reduce the amount of agglomerates of the particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate, and at the same time, a specified amount thereof may help to maintain the ability of the oxygen scavenger and aqueous alkaline components to reach the pores of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispersing agent is selected from polyacrylic acid having a molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 15,000 g / mol, a salt thereof, a derivative thereof, starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, or a mixture thereof. More preferably, the dispersing agent is polyacrylic acid partially or completely neutralized with alkali metal ions, preferably selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, and a mixture thereof, and having a molecular weight in the range of 1,500 to 6,000 g / mol. Most preferably, the dispersing agent is polyacrylic acid partially or completely neutralized with sodium ions and having a molecular weight in the range of 1,500 to 6,000 g / mol. The dispersing agent is contained in the coating layer of any one of the aspects of the present invention in an amount of 0.1 to 10 wt %, preferably 0.5 to 7 wt %, and more preferably 1.0 to 4 wt %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0166] It is recognized that the amounts of particulate filler, binder, at least one oxygen scavenger, any further additives, and any dispersant total 100% based on the total dry weight of the coating layer. Thus, in one embodiment, the coating layer does not include any further additives, and the amounts of particulate filler, binder, at least one oxygen scavenger, and any dispersant total 100% by weight based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0167] The coating layer is adapted to the uptake of oxygen and alkaline components. Therefore, the coating layer preferably has high porosity, thereby allowing it to accept a sufficiently large amount of alkaline components. For the purposes of the present invention, the porosity of the coating layer is represented by the total intrusion specific pore volume of the coating layer, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry.

[0168] Therefore, the coating layer of the present invention has a thickness of 0.1 to 2 cm as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. 3 In a preferred embodiment, the total intruded specific pore volume is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 cm3 / g, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. 3 / g, more preferably 0.15 to 0.5 cm 3 / g.

[0169] In a preferred embodiment, the coating layer comprises: - 0.05 to 1.0 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.5 cm 3 / g and more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 cm 3 / g, the total intraparticle indented specific pore volume, - 0.05 to 0.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.4 cm 3 / g and more preferably 0.1 to 0.3 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.4 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.3 cm 3 / g and more preferably 0.1 to 0.2 cm 3 Total occluded specific pore volume in the range of / g.

[0170] The total intrusion specific pore volume, total interparticle intrusion specific pore volume, and total occlusion intrusion specific pore volume are determined as described in CJ Ridgway, PA C Gane, "On bulk density measurement and coating porosity calculation for coated paper samples," Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal, 2003, 18, 24-31. Briefly, samples are coated on an impermeable substrate, such as aluminum foil or PET film, and characterized within the equivalent Laplace diameter range of 208 μm to 0.004 μm using a Micromeritics Autopore V mercury porosimeter. The specific pore volume is given in relation to the weight of the coating layer, excluding the impermeable substrate.

[0171] The total pore volume seen in the integrated intrusion data can be separated into two regions, with the intrusion data ranging from 214 μm, representing the scroll method, down to approximately 10 μm, and the interface between the coating and foil contributes some initial pore volume across the larger pore diameter range. Below these diameters, there is fine interparticle pore volume in the coating. If the particles also contain intraparticle pores, this region is bimodal, and the intraparticle specific pore volume is defined as the specific pore volume of mercury intrusion into pores narrower than the mode inflection point, i.e., the bimodal inflection point. Summing these three regions gives the total overall total pore volume for the coated sample.

[0172] Taking the first derivative of the cumulative intrusion curve reveals a pore size distribution based on the equivalent Laplace diameter, which necessarily includes pore shielding. The derivative curve clearly shows the occluded pore structure region, the interparticle pore region, and, if present, the intraparticle pore region. Once the intraparticle pore diameter range is known, it is possible to subtract the remaining interparticle and occluded pore volumes from the total pore volume to obtain only the desired pore volume of the internal pores as pore volume per unit mass (specific pore volume). Naturally, the same subtraction principle applies to isolating any other pore size region of interest.

[0173] The coating layer of the present invention has a high fluid acceptance capacity. In a preferred embodiment, the coating layer has a fluid acceptance capacity in the range of 1 to 50% by weight, more preferably 10 to 45% by weight, and most preferably 15 to 35% by weight. Therefore, the coating layer can support a large amount of aqueous alkaline components without peeling off and without leakage of the aqueous alkaline components.

[0174] The "fluid capacity" of a coating layer should be understood as the amount of fluid, e.g., water, that the coating layer can absorb at room temperature without leakage or peeling of the coating layer. The fluid capacity is determined visually. The fluid capacity is given in weight percent, meaning the weight of fluid per weight of coating layer. Preferably, the fluid is water or a 1 M K2CO3 solution in water.

[0175] A particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate is present in the coating layer to provide high porosity to the coating layer, and it is believed that the intra-particle, inter-particle and coarse aggregate pores of the particulate filler, particularly the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, are partially filled with the oxygen scavenger and partially retained in the coating layer, thus enabling high uptake of aqueous alkaline components.

[0176] A polymeric binder is added to provide a coating layer that can be evenly distributed over and adhere to the substrate layer. The amount of polymeric binder added is selected to be high enough to allow sufficient cohesion and adhesion of the layer, but low enough not to block or clog the pores of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate. In a preferred embodiment, the coating layer comprises the polymeric binder in an amount of 10% to 20% by weight, more preferably 12 to 18% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0177] Kits for improving food shelf life According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product comprising a sheet-like element component and an alkaline component.

[0178] Sheet-like element components The sheet-like element comprises a coating layer and a substrate layer, the substrate layer and the coating layer being described above.

[0179] The coating layer is applied onto a substrate layer, where the substrate layer is as described above. The present invention is not limited to any particular substrate layer. A person skilled in the art will adjust the composition of the coating layer to allow effective adhesion of the coating layer to the selected substrate layer. Depending on the substrate layer used, the sheet-like element can be flexible, i.e., bendable without delamination of the coating layer, or rigid. The substrate layer makes it possible to obtain a uniformly distributed coating layer. Therefore, optimal adhesion of the coating layer to the substrate layer can be achieved regardless of the material of the food packaging. Furthermore, the substrate layer allows for "additional functionality" of the sheet-like element. Preferably, the coating layer has a weight of 1 to 200 g / m. 2 , preferably 2 to 150 g / m 2 , more preferably 10 to 120 g / m 2 , and most preferably 25 to 100 g / m 2The coating layer can be applied to the substrate layer by the process described below, preferably by a roller coating step.

[0180] In another embodiment of the present invention, the sheet-like element further comprises one or more adhesive layers located on the substrate layer opposite the coating layer and / or between the individual substrate layers, where the adhesive layer is preferably selected from the group consisting of adhesives, sealants, rubber coatings, pressure-sensitive layers, and mixtures thereof. If an adhesive layer is present, the adhesive layer is used to temporarily or permanently secure the sheet-like element to the inner surface of the food package or to temporarily secure the sheet-like element to a sheet-like element supplying device as described below. However, even if an adhesive layer is not present, the sheet-like element can simply be roughly placed within the food package. If an adhesive layer is present between the individual substrate layers, the adhesive layer allows for improved adhesion of the individual substrate layers, thereby improving the lifespan and durability of the sheet-like element.

[0181] Suitable materials for the adhesive layer are known to those skilled in the art and include those listed in 21 CFR, Section 175.105. Specific examples include polyethyleneimine, polyurethane, polyacrylate, and starch. Suitable materials for the pressure-sensitive layer include those listed in 21 CFR, Section 175.125.

[0182] In another embodiment of the present invention, the sheet-like element further comprises one or more primer layers positioned between the substrate layer and the coating layer. The primer layer can be selected from any suitable material known to those skilled in the art, preferably from the group consisting of polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, nitrocellulose, acrylate, ethylene acrylate, polyacrylonitrile (acrylic), and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the primer layer is formed from an aqueous dispersion containing acrylate, ethylene acrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polyurethane, and / or nitrocellulose. Optionally, the primer layer further comprises polysilicic acid. When a primer layer is present between the substrate layer and the coating layer, the primer layer allows for improved adhesion of the individual substrate layers and / or between the substrate layer and the coating layer, thereby improving the lifespan and durability of the sheet-like element.

[0183] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sheet-like element further comprises one or more oxygen-permeable covering layers for permanently covering the coating layer. The term "oxygen-permeable" covering layer in the sense of the present invention means a covering layer which allows the passage of oxygen due to, for example, the presence of micropores.

[0184] The oxygen-permeable coating layer allows essentially unimpeded transmission of oxygen from the atmosphere for the food product into the coating layer, but prevents direct contact between the coating layer and the food product. Therefore, it is preferable to select the breathable coating layer from the group consisting of breathable film layers, fibrous material layers, and nonwoven fabric layers. The breathable film layer may be made of a material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. Suitable breathable film layers include those disclosed in WO 2016 / 023937 A1. Suitable fibrous material layers and nonwoven fabric layers for use as the breathable coating layer include those described above in connection with the substrate layer.

[0185] In a preferred embodiment, the oxygen-permeable coating layer prevents the passage of moisture or water vapor, thereby preventing water added in the form of an aqueous alkaline component from evaporating from the coating layer. This can further improve the oxygen scavenging activity of the activated sheet-like element in low-humidity environments (e.g., less than 50% rH). An exemplary oxygen-permeable but moisture-impermeable coating layer is an LDPE film. Such a layer is typically removed from the sheet-like element component prior to application of the aqueous alkaline component, or added to the activated sheet-like element, i.e., after application of the aqueous alkaline component.

[0186] In another embodiment of the present invention, the sheet-like element further comprises one or more protective layers for temporarily sealing the coating layer and / or adhesive layer, preferably selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, and / or coated paper. The protective layer shields the coating layer from environmental influences such as contamination by dust or grease until the sheet-like element component is used, i.e., until it is activated with an alkaline component and placed in a food package. If the sheet-like element component already contains an alkaline component, the protective layer is an oxygen-impermeable layer that prevents premature reaction with oxygen prior to intended use. Therefore, it is necessary that the protective layer can be removed from the coating layer without damaging it. Preferably, the protective layer is made of any polymer material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene, or coated paper. If a breathable covering layer is present in the sheet-like element, the protective layer is placed on the breathable covering layer.

[0187] The sheet-like elements can have a size that is adjusted according to the specific needs of the application, for example according to the size of the food package and / or the type and amount of foodstuffs in the package. The sheet-like elements can be in the form of, for example, angular or rounded patches or pieces. The coated area or size of the sheet-like elements can be between 3 and 200 cm.2 , preferably 4 to 150 cm 2 , more preferably 5 to 100 cm 2 The sheet-like element according to one embodiment may have a thickness of 3 to 8 or 5 to 10 cm. 2 The coated area or size may be

[0188] In one embodiment of the present invention, two or more of the sheet-like elements described above are combined to form a stacked sheet-like element. It is recognized that the two or more sheet-like elements may be the same or different. The two or more sheet-like elements are combined so that the coating layer of each individual sheet-like element is not occluded or only slightly occluded. The term "only slightly occluded" means that at most 25%, preferably at most 15%, and more preferably at most 10% of the coated area of ​​the sheet-like element is occluded or sealed. Thus, the two or more sheet-like elements are preferably combined using an intermittent adhesive layer, for example, by using dotted adhesive preferably placed between the two or more sheet-like elements, thereby occluding or sealing at most 25%, preferably at most 15%, and more preferably at most 10% of the area of ​​the coating layer of the sheet-like element. Therefore, the size of the stacked sheet-like element may be smaller than the total active oxygen scavenging area.

[0189] In another embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the sheet-like elements as described above are combined with another functional coating layer, whereby the coating layer of each individual sheet-like element and each functional coating layer is not or only slightly occluded, for example by the use of an intermittent adhesive layer as defined above. The functional coating layer may be selected from the group comprising moisture control layers, corrosion-inhibiting layers, metal chelating layers, antimicrobially active layers, temperature monitoring layers, radio frequency identification (RFID) layers, anti-counterfeiting print layers, and metallized film layers, for example for microwaveable packaging.

[0190] The sheet-like element components can be manufactured using the methods described below.

[0191] Alkaline components The kit of the present invention further comprises an alkaline component. The alkaline component has a pK of 6 or lower. b It contains bases having a value.

[0192] pK b pK is a measure of base strength and corresponds to the addition of a proton to the anion of the base and thus to the formation of the corresponding acid of the base. b The value can be calculated as follows: pK b =14-pK a Both of these values ​​can be gleaned from standard textbooks and / or tables.

[0193] It should be understood that the alkaline component of the kit can consist of a base, or the alkaline component of the kit can include additional components, such as a solvent, preferably water. Herein, an alkaline component comprising a base and water is referred to as an "aqueous alkaline component." In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the alkaline component is an aqueous alkaline component comprising a base and water.

[0194] The base activates at least one oxygen scavenger by at least partially deprotonating at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups. Therefore, the base must be strong enough to at least partially deprotonate such phenolic hydroxyl groups. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the resulting phenolate group, which has strong electron-donating properties, increases the electron density in the aryl ring of the at least one oxygen scavenger, thus enabling it to react with oxygen. The at least one activated oxygen scavenger can undergo various reactions with oxygen, resulting in the formation of multiple by-products such as dimers, ring-opened compounds, quinones, and hydrogen peroxide. These reactions are mediated or enabled by the presence of water. Therefore, it is necessary to dissolve or suspend the base in water before activation.

[0195] Therefore, if the alkaline component of the kit of the present invention does not contain water, the alkaline component is dissolved or suspended in water at the point of use to form an aqueous alkaline component. Dissolving or suspending the alkaline component in water only at the point of use is advantageous because it minimizes storage and shipping costs and allows for easier handling of the alkaline component before use.

[0196] In a preferred embodiment, the base has a pK of 5 or lower. b value, more preferably 4 or lower b Most preferably, the base has a pK value in the range of 4 to 0. b It has.

[0197] The base may be selected from the group consisting of hydroxide bases, carbonate bases, ammonia bases and mixtures thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate and mixtures thereof, and most preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, and sodium carbonate.

[0198] In the context of the present invention, hydroxide bases (pK b =0) are considered to be basic metal hydroxides, especially alkali metal hydroxides and alkaline earth metal hydroxides. b =3.6) are considered to be metal carbonates, especially alkali metal carbonates and alkaline earth metal carbonates. Ammonium bases are bases containing nitrogen atoms, preferably ammonium hydroxide (or ammonia, pK b =4.75), which is understood to be a primary amine, secondary amine, or tertiary amine.

[0199] In one embodiment of the present invention, the alkaline component is an aqueous alkaline component. In another embodiment of the present invention, the alkaline component is dissolved or suspended in water prior to use to form an aqueous alkaline component.

[0200] Preferably, the pH of the aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, and most preferably at least 12.

[0201] In another preferred embodiment, the aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1 wt % to 75 wt %, more preferably 5 wt % to 60 wt %, and most preferably 10 to 35 wt %, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component.

[0202] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product comprises: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO +The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of phenolic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, cinnamic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, and mixtures thereof; The acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) pK of 6 or lower b an alkaline component, preferably an aqueous alkaline component, comprising a base having a value and selected from the group consisting of hydroxide bases, carbonate bases, ammonium bases and mixtures thereof.

[0203] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product comprises: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof, and even more preferably the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; The acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) an alkaline component, preferably an aqueous alkaline component, comprising a base selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

[0204] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product comprises: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 90% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof, and even more preferably the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; The acid derivatives are essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids and contain a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof, most preferably calcium cation; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) an alkaline component, preferably an aqueous alkaline component, comprising a base selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

[0205] Activated sheet element A second aspect of the present invention relates to an activated sheet element formed from the kit of the present invention by adding an alkaline component to the coating layer of the sheet element component, the activated sheet element comprising the reaction product of at least one oxygen scavenger and a base.

[0206] It should be understood that the kit, the sheet-like element component, the alkaline component, the base and the at least one oxygen scavenger are described in detail above.

[0207] The activated sheet-like element comprises the reaction product of at least one oxygen scavenger and a base. The phenolic hydroxyl groups of the at least one oxygen scavenger are at least partially deprotonated, whereby the phenolic hydrogen atoms are replaced by cations of the base. The term "at least partially deprotonated" means that at least 2 mol%, preferably at least 5 mol%, more preferably at least 10 mol%, even more preferably 25 mol%, and most preferably at least 50 mol% of all phenolic hydrogen atoms are replaced by cations of the base. As an example, if the at least one oxygen scavenger contains three phenolic hydroxyl groups, there are three phenolic hydrogen atoms. The cations correspond to the cations of the base, and are therefore preferably alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, and ammonium ions (i.e., NH4). + , primary ammonium ion, secondary ammonium ion or tertiary ammonium ion), more preferably selected from among lithium, sodium, potassium and cesium, and most preferably selected from potassium and sodium.

[0208] In a preferred embodiment, the alkaline component is added in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalent, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalent, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalent, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalent, based on the molar amount of oxygen scavenger.

[0209] The present inventors have recognized that a relatively small, i.e., substoichiometric or catalytic, amount of base is sufficient to activate at least one oxygen scavenger, although larger amounts of base can be used.

[0210] In another preferred embodiment, the alkaline component is added in an amount of 10 to 70 wt %, preferably 20 to 65 wt %, more preferably 35 to 60 wt %, based on the total weight of the coating layer. The term "total weight of the coating layer" refers to the coating layer including the alkaline component.

[0211] Additionally or alternatively, the alkaline component is added in an amount of 25 to 200 wt. %, preferably 50 to 150 wt. %, based on the total weight of the dry coating layer.

[0212] The alkaline component is preferably an aqueous alkaline component as defined above. Thus, the alkaline component used to form the activated sheet-like element contains a large amount of water, which helps to maintain the activity of the activated sheet-like element during storage. The amount of alkaline component is selected to be high enough so that the oxygen scavenger is activated, but not so high that delamination of the coating layer occurs.

[0213] The inventors have recognized that the coating layers of the present invention are capable of retaining large amounts of liquid, such as water or aqueous alkaline components, and therefore can retain oxygen scavenging activity for extended periods of time, even at low relative humidities.

[0214] In other words, the activated sheet-like element of the present invention preferably comprises: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; and (iii) at least one activated oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one activated oxygen scavenger is a compound having at least two at least partially deprotonated phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one phenyl ring having at least one R group; two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are positioned ortho or para to each other on the at least one phenyl ring; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 groups, preferably R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group, or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; and (a2) Base material layer.

[0215] wherein the coating layer, the particulate filler, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, the polymeric binder, and the substrate layer are as described above. The at least one activated oxygen scavenger is a compound derived from at least one oxygen scavenger as described above by reacting the at least one oxygen scavenger with a base as described above. The activated sheet-like element can comprise further layers as described above in the context of the sheet-like element components.

[0216] In a preferred embodiment, the activated sheet-like element has a saturation of 5 to 200 mL O2 / (dg os ), preferably 10 to 150 mL O2 / (dg os ), more preferably 20 to 100 mL O2 / (dg os The OSR is expressed as mL of oxygen adsorbed per gram of oxygen scavenger per day. The OSR is measured by the adsorption of 250 cm3 of a mixture of N2 and O2 (98:2 by volume). 3 The oxygen scavenging rate is determined by placing the activated sheet-like element in a sealed tray having a headspace containing the oxygen scavenger and measuring the oxygen content of the tray headspace until the oxygen content is less than 0.4% by volume. The amount of oxygen scavenged is divided by the time required to reduce the oxygen content to less than 0.4% by volume and the amount of oxygen scavenger in the activated sheet-like element.

[0217] In another preferred embodiment, the activated sheet-like element has a saturation of 75 to 400 mL O2 / g os The oxygen scavenging capacity (OSC) is expressed as mL of oxygen adsorbed per gram of oxygen scavenger. The OSC is measured by the adsorption of 250 cm3 of a mixture of N2 and O2 (approximately 80:20 by volume). 3The amount of trapped oxygen is determined by placing the activated sheet-like element in a sealed tray having a headspace containing the oxygen scavenger and measuring the oxygen content of the tray headspace until the oxygen content is constant, e.g., until the oxygen content does not change by more than 0.1% by volume over a period of 6 hours. The amount of trapped oxygen is divided by the amount of oxygen scavenger in the activated sheet-like element.

[0218] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the activated sheet-like element comprises: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; and (iii) at least one activated oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one activated oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of a phenolic acid derivative having at least two at least partially deprotonated phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to each other, a cinnamic acid derivative having at least two at least partially deprotonated phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to each other, and a mixture thereof; The acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) pK of 6 or lower b an alkaline component, preferably an aqueous alkaline component, comprising a base having a value and selected from the group consisting of hydroxide bases, carbonate bases, ammonium bases and mixtures thereof.

[0219] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the activated sheet-like element comprises: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) at least one activated oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one activated oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof, and even more preferably the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; the acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; The phenolic hydroxyl group of the acid derivative is at least partially deprotonated; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) an alkaline component comprising a base selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof;

[0220] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the activated sheet-like element comprises: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 90% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) at least one activated oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one activated oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof, and even more preferably the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; The acid derivatives are essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids and contain a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof, most preferably calcium cation; The phenolic hydroxyl group of the acid derivative is at least partially deprotonated; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) an alkaline component comprising a base selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof;

[0221] The activated sheet-like element can be produced by the method described below.

[0222] Methods of the Invention A third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 groups, preferably R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 is a group, where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; (h) pK of 6 or lower b providing an alkaline component comprising a base having a value of (i) mixing the alkaline component of step (h) with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water, wherein preferably the pH of said aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, most preferably at least 12; and / or the aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1% to 75% by weight, more preferably 5% to 60% by weight, most preferably 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component.

[0223] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a sheet-like element component, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is essentially a fully deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; and (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; wherein the step (b) of providing at least one oxygen scavenger comprises the following substeps: (b1) providing at least one oxygen scavenger precursor that is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to each other, and R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is a carboxyl group, (b2) providing a basic compound; and (b3) reacting the carboxyl group of the oxygen scavenger precursor in step (b1) with the basic compound in step (b2) to obtain the oxygen scavenger.

[0224] Steps (a) to (g) in both methods of the present invention are described below.

[0225] It is recognized that in step (a) of the method of the present invention, a particulate filler as described above is provided. Furthermore, the at least one oxygen scavenger in step (b) of the method of the present invention, the polymeric binder in step (c) of the method of the present invention, and the substrate layer in step (d) of the method of the present invention are as described above. The particulate filler in step (a), the at least one oxygen scavenger in step (b), and / or the polymeric binder in step (c) can be provided independently of one another in pure form, or alternatively in the form of a solution or suspension, wherein at least one of the particulate filler in step (a), the at least one oxygen scavenger in step (b), and / or the polymeric binder in step (c) is provided in the form of a solution or suspension, or is dissolved or suspended in a solvent prior to the mixing step (e).

[0226] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polymer binder in step (c) is provided in the form of a solution, more preferably an aqueous solution. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polymer binder in step (c) is provided in the form of an aqueous solution having a pH value of at least 7, preferably at least 8, for example, 8 to 12, for example, 8 to 10. The pH value can be adjusted using any acid or base known to those skilled in the art. If the pH value of the solution is initially less than 7, it is preferred to adjust the pH value using an aqueous solution of a base, such as sodium hydroxide solution. Adjusting the pH value to a specified range can improve the swelling properties of the polymer binder.

[0227] In the mixing step (e), the at least one oxygen scavenger from step (b), the particulate filler from step (a) and the polymeric binder from step (c) are mixed in that order to obtain a coating composition.

[0228] Preferably, the coating composition thus obtained comprises a particulate filler in an amount of 25-70 wt%, preferably 30-60 wt%, more preferably 40-60 wt%, based on the total dry weight of the coating composition, at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25-70 wt%, preferably 30-60 wt%, more preferably 40-60 wt%, based on the total dry weight of the coating composition, and a binder in an amount of 5-25 wt%, preferably 10-20 wt%, more preferably 12-18 wt%, based on the total dry weight of the coating composition.

[0229] If the coating composition obtained in step (e) is to be stored temporarily until its further processing or use, it can be stored under an inert gas atmosphere, for example under nitrogen.

[0230] The amounts of the particulate filler, binder, at least one oxygen scavenger, any further additives, and any dispersant total 100% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer. Thus, in one embodiment, the coating layer does not include any further additives, and the amounts of the particulate filler, binder, at least one oxygen scavenger, and any dispersant total 100% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0231] Preferably, the mixing step (e) is carried out in the presence of a solvent. Thus, the coating composition is obtained in the form of a slurry. The solvent may be any solvent that allows dispersion of the particulate filler containing surface-reacted calcium carbonate, at least one oxygen scavenger, and polymer binder within the coating composition, such as water, acetone, ethanol, methanol, or butanone. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the solvent is water.

[0232] The solids content of the coating composition is preferably in the range of 10 to 80 wt %, more preferably 20 to 70 wt %, even more preferably 30 to 60 wt %, and most preferably 40 to 55 wt %, based on the total weight of the coating composition.

[0233] During the mixing step (e), optional additional additives can be added, such as rheology modifiers, viscosity enhancers, wetting agents, waxes, antistatic agents, dispersants, and / or antifoaming agents. Suitable viscosity modifiers include thickeners, such as those described above. According to one embodiment, the additional additives can be added in an amount of 0.05 to 5.0 wt. %, preferably 0.1 to 2.0 wt. %, and more preferably 0.2 to 1.0 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating composition.

[0234] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispersing agent as described above is added during the mixing step (e) in an amount of 0.1 to 10 wt. %, preferably 0.5 to 7 wt. %, more preferably 1 to 4 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating composition. In this embodiment, it is necessary to add the dispersing agent to the at least one oxygen scavenger in step (b) before adding the particulate filler in step (a).

[0235] Generally, the polymer binder, the particulate filler, and the at least one oxygen scavenger can be contacted by any conventional means known to those skilled in the art. For example, the compounds can be mixed in the absence or presence of a solvent. Suitable mixing equipment is known to those skilled in the art and can include mixers or blenders, such as tumble mixers, vertical or horizontal plowshare mixers, such as the Plowshare® mixer available from Gebrueder Loedige Maschinenbau GmbH, or laboratory mixers, such as the MP mixer available from Somakon Verfahrenstechnik UG. Those skilled in the art will adapt the mixing conditions (e.g., the mixing speed configuration) according to their needs and available equipment.

[0236] The inventors have found that this mixing sequence ensures that the final coating layer has high porosity. The defined sequence also allows for processing or mixing as a high solids slurry, which is advantageous compared to low solids processing using large amounts of water or solvents.

[0237] In the applying step (f), the coating composition of step (e) is applied (sprayed) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to form a sheet-like element precursor. The applying step (f) can be carried out by any means known to those skilled in the art, for example, by spraying or coating. Preferably, the applying step (f) is carried out by a coating step, more preferably by roller coating, dip coating, rod coating, grooved rod coating, curtain coating, rigid blade coating, applicator roll coating, fountain coating, jet coating, short dwell coating, slotted die coating, curved blade coating, inclined blade coating, air knife coating, bar coating, gravure coating, conventional or metered size press coating, spray application techniques, screen printing and / or wet stack coating, most preferably by roller coating.

[0238] Preferably, the coating composition is applied in an amount of 1 to 200 g / m 2 relative to the substrate layer. 2 , preferably 2 to 150 g / m 2 , more preferably 10 to 120 g / m 2 , and most preferably 25 to 100 g / m 2 is applied in an amount sufficient to produce a final coating layer coating weight of .gtoreq.

[0239] If the sheet-like element further comprises a primer layer, the primer layer is applied to the substrate layer of step (d) in a priming step (f1) prior to the applying step (f). The primer layer can be applied using any suitable application process known to those skilled in the art, either in an in-line process, i.e., using the same manufacturing method or the same equipment as for the application of the coating composition in the applying step (f), or in an off-line process, i.e., using separate equipment for the priming step (f1) and the applying step (f).

[0240] Drying step (g) can be carried out by any method known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, drying step (g) is carried out by hot air drying, IR radiation drying or UV radiation drying at a temperature in the range of 50 to 150°C under ambient or reduced pressure. The sheet-like element thus obtained preferably has a porosity of 0.25 to 2 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. 3 In a preferred embodiment, the total intrusion specific pore volume is in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 cm / g, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 1.0 cm 3 / g range.

[0241] In a preferred embodiment, the coating layer comprises: - 0.05 to 1.0 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.5 cm 3 / g and more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 cm 3 / g, the total intraparticle indented specific pore volume, - 0.05 to 0.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.4 cm 3 / g and more preferably 0.1 to 0.3 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.4 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.3 cm 3 / g and more preferably 0.1 to 0.2 cm 3 Total occluded specific pore volume in the range of / g.

[0242] The method of the present invention for producing a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product further comprises: b and (h) providing an alkaline component comprising a base having a value of 0.05 wt %, wherein the alkaline component is provided as described above.

[0243] Preferably, the inventive method for producing a kit for improving the shelf life of a food product further comprises step (i) of mixing the alkaline component of step (h) with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising a base and water, wherein preferably the pH of the aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, and most preferably at least 12; and / or The aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1% to 75% by weight, more preferably 5% to 60% by weight, most preferably 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component.

[0244] It is recognized that the aqueous alkaline component thus obtained is as described above. Step (i) can be carried out by any mixing means known to those skilled in the art, such as those described above for process step (e).

[0245] Method step (b) of the method of the present invention may comprise the following sub-steps: (b1) providing at least one oxygen scavenger precursor that is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to each other, and R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is a carboxyl group, (b2) providing a basic compound; and (b3) reacting the carboxyl group of the oxygen scavenger precursor in step (b1) with the basic compound in step (b2) to obtain the oxygen scavenger.

[0246] The sub-steps (b1) to (b3) are essential for the method for producing a sheet-like element component according to the fourth aspect of the present invention and can be used for providing the oxygen scavenger in step (b) of the method for producing a kit for improving shelf life according to the third aspect of the present invention.

[0247] The present inventors have unexpectedly found that oxygen scavengers containing free carboxylic acids have the ability to react with surface-reacted calcium carbonate, which can damage its structure and ultimately result in a coating layer with low porosity. Such a coating layer cannot adequately accept large amounts of aqueous alkaline components and therefore cannot be used as an oxygen scavenging element. Therefore, the precursor of the oxygen scavenger containing free carboxylic acids must be essentially completely deprotonated by reaction with a basic compound before its incorporation into the coating layer of the sheet-like element component of the present invention.

[0248] The basic compound may be any compound that is sufficiently basic to essentially completely deprotonate the carboxyl groups of the oxygen scavenger precursor. Preferably, the basic compound is selected so that the reaction by-product is water, and optionally a gas. Thus, preferred basic compounds include carbonate bases, hydroxide bases, hydrogen carbonate bases (bicarbonate bases), amine bases, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the basic compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, potassium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydrogen carbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydrogen carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, ammonia, and mixtures thereof, and most preferably calcium carbonate.

[0249] It is understood that the calcium carbonate is preferably not surface-reacted calcium carbonate, i.e., does not include a hydrophobic treatment layer on its surface and / or does not have a significant amount of grinding aid adhered thereto.

[0250] In step (b3), the basic compound is preferably added to the oxygen scavenger precursor in a molar amount of 50% to 110%, preferably 80% to 100%, more preferably 90% to 100%, even more preferably 95% to 100%, even more preferably 98% to 100%, and most preferably 98% to 100%, based on the oxygen scavenger precursor. Step (b3) is preferably carried out in a solvent, more preferably in water. Step (b3) can be carried out under mixing, as described above in step (e).

[0251] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for manufacturing a sheet-like element component comprises the following steps: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger selected from the group consisting of phenolic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, cinnamic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, and mixtures thereof, wherein said acid derivatives are essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; and (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; wherein the step (b) of providing at least one oxygen scavenger comprises the following substeps: (b1) providing at least one oxygen scavenger precursor selected from the group consisting of a phenolic acid derivative having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, a cinnamic acid derivative having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, and mixtures thereof; (b2) providing a basic compound; and (b3) reacting the carboxyl group of the oxygen scavenger precursor in step (b1) with the basic compound in step (b2) to obtain the oxygen scavenger.

[0252] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a sheet-like element component comprises the following steps: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives, and mixtures thereof, even more preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative, wherein: The acid derivatives are essentially fully deprotonated versions of the respective acids; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; and (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; wherein the step (b) of providing at least one oxygen scavenger comprises the following substeps: (b1) providing a precursor of at least one oxygen scavenger selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives, and mixtures thereof, and even more preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; (b2) providing a basic compound selected from the group consisting of a carbonate base, a hydroxide base, a bicarbonate base, an amine base, and mixtures thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide, ammonia, and mixtures thereof, most preferably calcium carbonate; and (b3) reacting the carboxyl group of the oxygen scavenger precursor in step (b1) with the basic compound in step (b2) to obtain the oxygen scavenger.

[0253] A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for activating a sheet-like element component of the present invention in a kit of the present invention, said method comprising the steps of: (j) mixing the alkaline component with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising a base and water; and (k) applying the aqueous alkaline component to at least a portion of the surface of the coating layer.

[0254] It should be understood that the sheet-like element component of the present invention is as described above and can be obtained by any one of the methods described herein. Furthermore, the kit, alkaline component, aqueous alkaline component, base, and coating layer are as described above. The method preferably leads to obtaining an activated sheet-like element as described above.

[0255] Preferably, the alkaline component is added or applied in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalent, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalent, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalent, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalent, based on the molar amount of the oxygen scavenger, and / or the alkaline component is added in an amount of 10 to 70 wt. %, preferably 20 to 65 wt. %, more preferably 35 to 60 wt. %, based on the total weight of the coating layer.

[0256] The applying step (k) can be carried out by any means known to those skilled in the art to at least a portion of the surface of the coating layer, preferably by inkjet printing, spraying, coating, vapor deposition, and / or immersion. In one embodiment, the applying step (k) is carried out by coating. It should be understood that the aqueous alkaline component can be applied by any coating means known to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to roller coating, dip coating, rod coating, grooved rod coating, curtain coating, rigid blade coating, applicator roll coating, fountain coating, jet coating, short dwell coating, slotted die coating, curved blade coating, inclined blade coating, air knife coating, bar coating, gravure coating, conventional or metered size press coating, spray application techniques, spin coating, screen printing, and / or wet stack coating, preferably dip coating, slotted die coating, and / or spin coating.

[0257] In a preferred embodiment, the applying step (k) is carried out by inkjet printing, spraying, coating, and / or dipping. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the applying step (k) is carried out by spraying.

[0258] The application step (k) can be carried out immediately after the production of the sheet-like elements, i.e. already at the production site, in which case it is preferable to apply an oxygen-permeable protective layer as described above to the activated sheet-like elements or to store the activated sheet-like elements in a feeder as described below, in order to prevent the activated sheet-like elements from picking up oxygen before being incorporated into a food package.

[0259] However, it is particularly preferred that the application step (k) is carried out immediately before or shortly before placing the activated sheet-like element inside the food package, thus effectively avoiding premature oxygen scavenging. In other words, it is preferred that the sheet-like element and the kit are transported and stored in an inactivated state.

[0260] Optionally, the method of the present invention further comprises a printing step (1). The sheet-like element can be printed with a pattern, a logo, text or other information. The printing ink can be applied to the coating layer of the present invention and / or to the opposite side of the coating layer of the present invention on the substrate layer. In the latter option, it is preferred that the outermost individual substrate layer is a print-receptive coating layer as described above. Printing methods suitable for use in the present invention include inkjet, offset, flexographic and gravure printing.

[0261] Optionally, the method of the present invention further comprises a cutting step (m). The sheet-like element can be cut into a plurality of pieces having a predetermined size. The size of the pieces is adjusted according to the specific needs of the application, for example, the size of the food package or the type of food product. The coated area or size of the pieces is preferably between 3 and 200 cm. 2 , preferably 4 to 150 cm 2 , more preferably 5 to 100 cm 2 The sheet-like element according to one embodiment may be 3 to 8 or 5 to 10 cm 2 The coated area or size may be

[0262] Supply device of the present invention The kit of the invention may further comprise a feeder comprising the sheet-like element components of the invention, wherein the feeder preferably comprises a roll or a magazine.Furthermore, a sixth aspect of the invention relates to a feeder comprising the activated sheet-like element of the invention, wherein the feeder protects the activated sheet-like element from oxygen and preferably comprises a roll, stack, magazine or package, such as a box.

[0263] The supply device comprises a sheet-like element component or activated sheet-like element according to any of the above-described aspects of the present invention. Preferably, the supply device comprises a roll or magazine containing the sheet-like elements. The supply device may be a label dispenser or label applicator containing this roll and / or magazine. However, the supply device may also comprise a sheet comprising at least two sheet-like elements of the present invention. Therefore, it is preferred that the sheet-like elements are reversibly and non-destructively removable from the supply device.

[0264] The sheet-like element can therefore be easily delivered and provided right at the point of use.

[0265] The food package of the present invention The kit of the present invention may further comprise a food package comprising the sheet-like element component, wherein the coating layer is present within the food package. Furthermore, a seventh aspect of the present invention relates to a food package comprising the activated sheet-like element of the present invention, wherein the coating layer is present within the food package. It is recognized that the sheet-like element and the coating layer are as defined above.

[0266] The aqueous alkaline composition is applied to the sheet-like element or coating layer in the food package of the present invention before, during, or after the food product is packed into the food package of the present invention. The activated sheet-like element is placed into the food package before, during, or after the food product is packed into the food package.

[0267] In a preferred embodiment, a food package containing an activated sheet-like element of the present invention further comprises a modified atmosphere. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; also known as modified atmosphere packaging) of food products is well known to those skilled in the art. The atmosphere within the food package initially contains low levels of oxygen, i.e., less than 20% by volume, more preferably less than 5% by volume, and most preferably less than 2% by volume, based on the total volume of the package atmosphere, which is further reduced by the oxygen-scavenging activity of the activated sheet-like element of the present invention. The modified atmosphere preferably consists essentially of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, preferably in a volume ratio of 10:90 to 90:10, more preferably 20:80 to 80:20, and most preferably 30:70 to 70:30, e.g., about 70:30, about 60:40, or about 50:50. It is recognized that after filling the food package with the activated sheet-like element, the food product, and optionally the modified atmosphere, the food package of the present invention is closed or sealed. The food package can be closed or sealed by any means known to those skilled in the art.

[0268] Alternatively or additionally, the atmosphere of the food package comprises a relative humidity in the range of greater than 0 to 100%. The activated sheet-like element of the present invention effectively scavenges oxygen at relative humidities in the range of 30-100% rH, preferably 50-100% rH.

[0269] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the food package is sealed by heat sealing, pressure sealing and / or ultrasonic welding, more preferably in combination with a sealant. Preferred sealants for use in the present invention include pressure sensitive adhesives selected from the group consisting of permanent pressure sensitive adhesives, removable pressure sensitive adhesives, and resealable pressure sensitive adhesives, preferably resealable pressure sensitive adhesives.

[0270] Within the food package of the present invention, the activated sheet-like element scavenges oxygen, thus preventing or retarding food spoilage and / or increasing the shelf life of the food product.

[0271] The present invention is not limited to any particular type of food product. In one embodiment of the present invention, the food product is selected from the group comprising: fresh and processed meat, poultry, beef, pork, ham, sausage, dried meat; fresh and processed fish; dairy products such as cheese, e.g., sliced ​​cheese or grated cheese; bakery products such as bread, toast, cakes, cookies; snacks; nuts and oilseeds; vegetables; confectionery; ready-to-eat foods; and liquid and solid food products, including beverages such as juice, in particular orange juice.

[0272] The present inventors have found that the combined use of the activated sheet-like elements of the present invention with MAP has a synergistic effect on extending the shelf life of food products. Most importantly, they have unexpectedly found that the activated sheet-like elements of the present invention retain their oxygen scavenging activity in the presence of CO, despite the fact that CO tends to inactivate the oxygen scavengers used in the present invention when the oxygen scavengers are not in the form of the sheet-like elements of the present invention.

[0273] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the food package of the present invention is a kit comprising: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of phenolic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, cinnamic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para positions relative to each other, and mixtures thereof; The acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) pK of 6 or lower b an alkaline component, preferably an aqueous alkaline component, comprising a base having a value and selected from the group consisting of hydroxide bases, carbonate bases, ammonium bases and mixtures thereof.

[0274] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the food package of the present invention is a kit comprising: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof, and even more preferably the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; The acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) an alkaline component, preferably an aqueous alkaline component, comprising a base selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

[0275] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the food package of the present invention is a kit comprising: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 90% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + The carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, and + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof, and even more preferably the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; The acid derivatives are essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids and contain a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof, most preferably calcium cation; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) an alkaline component, preferably an aqueous alkaline component, comprising a base selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

[0276] Uses of the present invention An eighth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the kit of the invention and / or the activated sheet-like element of the invention in food packaging. A ninth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the kit of the invention or the activated sheet-like element of the invention for extending the shelf life of food.

[0277] It will be appreciated that the kit, activated sheet-like element and food package are as described above.

[0278] As detailed above, the activated sheet-like elements of the present invention loaded with alkaline components effectively and rapidly scavenge oxygen from the headspace atmosphere of a food package. The presence of oxygen reduces the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, especially bacteria, fungi, and molds, such as Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Salmonella enterica, Listeria innocua, Lactobacillus sakei, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium botulinum, Campylobacter spp. spp.), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Norovirus, Toxoplasma gondii, Cyclospora spp., Bacillus cereus, Cronobacter sakazakii, Shigella spp., Vibrio spp., Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis pseudotuberculosis), Brucella spp.), Corynebacterium ulcerans, Coxiella burnetii, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae, Aeromonas sobria, Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium commune, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria spp., Fusarium moniliforme Oxygen scavenging activity has been associated with the growth of bacteria such as Pseudomonas moniliforme, Cephalosporium, Fusarium, Myrothecium, Stachybotrys, and Trichoderma, as well as Hepatitis A virus, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Trichinella spiralis. The presence of oxygen also causes oxidative flavor degradation or rancidity and food discoloration, such as loss of redness in meat products. Discoloration is particularly relevant when foodstuffs are stored under light. This adverse effect of oxygen not only compromises edibility but also impairs appearance, texture, and taste, thus reducing consumer acceptance and ultimately limiting or reducing the shelf life of foods. Oxygen scavenging activity also prevents or reduces the deterioration of vitamin C in juices, such as orange juice. .

[0279] The activated sheet-like elements of the present invention contain an oxygen scavenger in an amount sufficient to achieve the desired reduction in oxygen in a food package, and those skilled in the art can adjust, as taught herein, for example, the size of the sheet-like element, the composition and amount of the coating layer present on the substrate layer, and the amount of base carried by the sheet-like elements of the present invention to thereby achieve the desired effect in the food package.

[0280] For example, each dose may contain at least one oxygen scavenger with 1 cm of headspace. 3 0.0005 to 10 mg per cm, preferably 0.001 to 5 mg / cm 3 , more preferably 0.005 to 2 mg / cm 3 or 0.01 to 1 mg / cm 3 Additionally or alternatively, each amount may be adjusted so that the coating layer has a headspace of 1 cm or less. 3 0.05~10cm per 2 , preferably 0.1 to 5 cm 2 / cm 3 , more preferably 0.2 to 2 cm 2 / cm 3 , for example, about 0.25 cm 2 / cm 3 For purposes of this invention, the "headspace" of a food package is considered to be the amount of gas (e.g., air or modified atmosphere) present within the food package.

[0281] Preferably, the food product is stored at temperatures typical for storage of chilled or frozen food products, i.e., 0° C. to 14° C., preferably 3° C. to 10° C., more preferably 4° C. to 7° C., for example 7±1° C. However, the food product can also be stored at room temperature, i.e., 15° C. to 30° C., preferably 18° C. to 25° C., for example 18° C. to 22° C. Thus, the shelf life of the food product in the food package can be extended.

[0282] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the activated sheet-like element of the invention scavenges at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, of oxygen from the headspace of a food package within 12 hours at 20±2°C.

[0283] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the activated sheet-like element of the present invention scavenges at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, of oxygen from the headspace of a food package within 48 hours, preferably within 24 hours, more preferably within 12 hours, and most preferably within 6 hours at 4±2°C.

[0284] In another preferred embodiment, the activated sheet-like element of the present invention is used to maintain the oxygen content in the headspace of a food package at less than 0.5% by volume, preferably less than 0.2% by volume, more preferably less than 0.1% by volume during storage for at least 21 days.

[0285] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the activated sheet-like element of the present invention is used in combination with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) as described above, thereby achieving a synergistic oxygen scavenging effect and a synergistic effect on shelf life extension. Thus, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the activated sheet-like element of the present invention scavenges at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, of the residual oxygen from the modified atmosphere in the headspace of a food package within 12 hours at 20±2°C.

[0286] In another preferred embodiment, the activated sheet-like element of the present invention is used to maintain the oxygen content in the modified atmosphere of the headspace of a food package below 0.5% by volume, preferably below 0.2% by volume, more preferably below 0.1% by volume during storage for at least 21 days.

[0287] The scope and advantages of the present invention will be better understood based on the following examples, which are intended to illustrate, but not limit, some embodiments of the invention. [Example]

[0288] Materials and Methods Gallic acid was purchased as the monohydrate from Acros Organics. Acronal 500D was purchased from BASF.

[0289] SRCC: To obtain SRCC, 350 liters of an aqueous suspension of ground calcium carbonate was prepared in a mixing vessel by adjusting the solids content of ground limestone calcium carbonate from Omya SAS, Orgon, with a mass-based median particle size of 1.3 μm, determined by sedimentation, to obtain a solids content of 10 wt. % relative to the total weight of the aqueous suspension.

[0290] While the slurry was mixed at a speed of 6.2 m / s, 11.2 kg of phosphoric acid in the form of an aqueous solution containing 30% by weight of phosphoric acid was added to the suspension over a period of 20 minutes at a temperature of 70° C. After the acid addition, the slurry was stirred for a further 5 minutes, after which it was removed from the vessel and dried using a jet dryer.

[0291] The SRCC had a volume median particle size of 6.6 μm and a volume-based top cut (d 98 ), 60m 2 / g, and a BET specific surface area of ​​0.939 cm 3 / g (pore diameter range: 0.004-0.51 μm). This SRCC was used as a particulate filler.

[0292] Untreated calcium carbonate 1: Italian marble;d 50 (vol) = 1.83 μm, d 98 (vol)=7μm(Malvern 3000; dry)

[0293] Dispersant: Molecular weight M of about 4500 g / mol w and a polyacrylate dispersant 100% neutralized with sodium (2 g, solids content 42 wt. %) with a polydispersity index IP of 1.6.

[0294] Binder: Acronal 500D: polyacrylate binder (15 g, solids content 46 wt%).

[0295] Preparation of Coating Formulations Gallic acid (50 g, 0.26 mol) was suspended in water (978 mL) and untreated calcium carbonate 1 (13 g, 0.13 mol) was slowly added. The mixture was stirred for 15 minutes. Dispersant (2 g) was added, and SRCC (50 g) was dispersed in the formulation in small increments. Binder (15 g) was added to the formulation, adjusting the pH to pH 8.5. The coating formulation was stirred for an additional 15 minutes before use. This coating formulation is typically characterized by a solids content of 40%, a pH of 6.2, and a viscosity of 170 mPa·s (100 RPM).

[0296] Preparation of sheet-like element precursors handmade PET folios (Hostaphan RN100, 100 μm, PuetzFolien) were coated in an Eriksen K303 Multicoater at speed setting 5 using Rod type 9. Samples were dried in an IR and air oven (set at 110°C) to a coating density of 55 g / m 2 A coating of 1000 ppm was obtained.

[0297] The total indented specific pore volume of the coating layer is 0.232 cm 3 / g.

[0298] machine PET folios (Hostaphan RN100, 100 μm, PuetzFolien) were coated in a Dürrer coating machine (see Figure 2). The following parameters were used to apply the coating formulation: Rod C50, rod pressure (1 bar), IR and air dryer (set at 150°C), and speed 5 m / min. 2 The coating was applied.

[0299] Example 1 - Oxygen scavenging activity (OSA) of sheet-like elements activated with various aqueous alkaline components According to the machine coating method described above, 22 g / m 2 Sheet elements containing a gallic acid-based coating layer with a coating weight of 1000 ppm were prepared and cut into rectangular pieces measuring 6 × 11 cm. They were then placed in an empty high-barrier tray (PS-EVOH-PE, Staeger & Co. AG, Murry, Switzerland, 204 × 147 mm, 14 mm high, with 0.5 mm peel) together with an oxygen sensor spot (type PSt 6, PreSens Precision Sensing GmbH, Regensburg, Germany) under an atmosphere containing 98% by volume of N and 2% by volume of O, with a volume of 350 cm. 3 The sheet elements were individually packaged in a tray sealer T200 (MULTIVAC, Hünenberg, Switzerland) in a 1000-ml can. A glass Petri dish containing water was also added to the tray to provide approximately 100% relative humidity. Glass beads were added to reduce the headspace volume to 250 cm. 3 The relative humidity was monitored using a hygrometer (testo 174H, Testo SE&Co. KGaA, Lenzkirch, Germany).

[0300] Prior to sealing, various aqueous alkaline solutions (130 μL±10 μL each) were added to each sheet element via an E2 EUR spray table system (Nortson EFD). The packaged and sealed trays were stored at 21°C, and the oxygen concentration was measured non-destructively using a fiber optic Fibox 4 trace (PreSens Precision Sensing GmbH, Regensburg, Germany). Each measurement was performed in quadruplicate. The results were averaged and are summarized in Table 1 and Figure 1. The oxygen scavenging rate (OSR) refers to the total amount of oxygen (in mL) scavenged per gram of calcium gallate (CGA) during the measurement time (in days).

[0301] [Table 1]

[0302] Once activated with a sufficiently high amount of base (greater than 4 mole percent relative to the oxygen scavenger in Example 1), the sheet-like elements were able to effectively scavenge oxygen from the surrounding headspace. The best results were achieved with potassium carbonate, which scavenged essentially all of the oxygen present in the tray in less than 6 hours.

[0303] Example 2 - Effect of the amount of alkaline aqueous solution on OSA The test of Example 1 was repeated using 1 M K2CO3, except that different amounts of aqueous alkaline component were applied to the sheet element. The results are summarized in Table 2.

[0304] [Table 2]

[0305] The results show that the amount of aqueous alkaline component has only a small effect on the oxygen scavenging rate.

[0306] Example 3 - OSA of activated sheet-like elements under different environmental conditions The test of Example 1 was repeated using 1 M K2CO3, except that a Petri dish containing a saturated solution of magnesium chloride was placed inside the tray to provide approximately 37% relative humidity. The trays were stored at 21°C and 5°C, respectively. The results are summarized in Table 3.

[0307] [Table 3]

[0308] As can be seen, the activated sheet-like element was able to reduce the amount of oxygen present inside the tray to a level of less than 0.5% by volume, even at the low humidity and even lower temperatures typically used for storing food products.

[0309] Example 4 - OSA of activated sheet-like elements under MAP The test of Example 1 was repeated using 1 M KCO, except that the trays were packaged under a modified atmosphere containing varying amounts of CO and N and 2% by volume O. The results are summarized in Table 4.

[0310] [Table 4]

[0311] It can be seen that the activated sheet-like element maintains its oxygen scavenging activity in the presence of 30% by volume of carbon dioxide, an amount commonly used in MAP (modified atmosphere packaging or modified gas packaging), and even in the presence of 40% by volume of carbon dioxide.

[0312] Example 5 - Application of activated sheet-like elements to processed meat products 23g / m 2 A sheet-like element containing a coating layer with a coating weight of 1000 mg / kg was prepared according to the machine coating method described above, and the sheet-like element was 75 cm 2 The sheet elements were then cut into pieces. The sheet elements were packed into trays with a residual headspace volume of 150 mL containing various meat products: 6 slices of cooked turkey ham, 4.5 slices of ham, or 5.5 slices of meatloaf (100±2.8 g each). The sheet elements were activated by applying 150 μL of 5 M K2CO3, and the trays were sealed under an atmosphere containing 1% by volume of O2 and 30% by volume of CO2 and N2. After packaging, the samples were stored in the dark at 4°C and 78% relative humidity. After 24 hours, the samples were stored under continuous lighting. All measurements were performed in triplicate. Package and oxygen content measurements were performed as described in Example 1.

[0313] The color of the meat products was determined using a tristimulus colorimeter (Chroma Meter CR-410). Prior to use, the instrument was calibrated against a white tile (Y=85.4, x=0.3176, y=0.3341). The measurements were performed using the CIE L * a * b *For each sample, lightness, redness, and blueness (CIE L) were measured three times in one location using at least three different packages. * , a * and b * The values ​​of the respective values ​​were measured. The samples were measured through the packaging film by a lens (φ=8 mm), on which the exact measurement locations were marked. The measurement locations were chosen to allow for the best homogeneity of the visible meat in the package. Measurements where the meat product was in contact with the top foil of the package were avoided as this would distort the discolouration behaviour of the meat product. CIE a * The value (redness) gives the best correlation with the visual assessment of the color of meat products, and therefore the redness change (Δa * Based on the results of color measurements, the change in redness (Δa * ) is calculated using the following formula:

number

[0314] The results are summarized in Table 5.

[0315] [Table 5]

[0316] As can be seen, the oxygen content in the headspace initially increased due to the oxygen present in the meat samples. During storage under dark conditions, the activated sheet element effectively captured oxygen from the headspace, whereas the oxygen content remained unchanged during the same storage period in the absence of the sheet element. Thus, the activated sheet element effectively prevented discoloration of the meat product, as indicated by the reduction in redness over the 21-day storage period. The sheet element was able to maintain low oxygen levels within the package for at least 21 days. Note that once the meat samples were exposed to light, the oxygen content of the tray without the sheet element also decreased. However, this decrease in oxygen content was likely due to microbial activity, which in this case indicates spoilage of the meat samples. Thus, the activated sheet element effectively prevented discoloration of the meat product and extended its shelf life under industrially relevant conditions.

[0317] Further aspects and embodiments of the present invention are described below: Aspect or embodiment [1]: Kits to improve food shelf life, including: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + and the carbon dioxide is a reaction product of the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is a compound having at least one phenyl ring with at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group; two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are positioned ortho or para to each other on the at least one phenyl ring; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 groups, preferably R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group, or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) pK of 6 or lower b Alkaline components including bases with values.

[0318] [2] The kit of embodiment [1], wherein the sheet-like element component comprises a coating layer comprising: - 0.1 to 1.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.1 to 1.0 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 1.0 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.5 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.4 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.3 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.4 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.3 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.2 cm 3 / g, and / or - 1 to 200 g / m on the base layer 2 , preferably 2 to 150 g / m 2 , more preferably 10 to 120 g / m 2 is present in an amount of Coating layer.

[0319] [3] The kit of embodiment [1] or [2], wherein the coating layer comprises: - the polymer binder in an amount of 10 to 20% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and / or - the particulate filler in an amount of 30 to 60% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and / or the oxygen scavenger in an amount of 30 to 60 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0320] [4] the granular filler comprises the surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the at least one granular filler, and most preferably the granular filler consists of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate; and the optionally present further particulate filler material is selected from the group consisting of dolomite, ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, talc, gypsum, titanium dioxide, kaolin, silicates, mica, barium sulfate, calcined clay, non-calcined (hydrous) clay, bentonite and mixtures thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate and mixtures thereof, most preferably the particulate filler consists of the optionally present further particulate filler material and the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to [3].

[0321] [5] The surface-reacted calcium carbonate - 50-120m measured by the BET method 2 / g and / or - 0.1 to 2.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.2 to 2.2 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.4 to 2.0 cm 3 / g, most preferably 0.6 to 1.8 cm 3 / g of total intraparticle indented specific pore volume, The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to [4].

[0322] [6] - the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of phenolic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another, cinnamic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another, and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof; Even more preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; wherein the acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; Most preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is essentially fully deprotonated gallic acid, and / or - the at least one oxygen scavenger containing essentially fully deprotonated carboxyl groups comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, sodium, lithium, potassium, cesium, magnesium, calcium and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof; Most preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger comprises calcium cations. The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to [5].

[0323] [7] the polymer binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the polymer binder is selected from polyacrylic acids, their salts, their derivatives and mixtures thereof. The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to [6].

[0324] [8] The substrate layer comprises one or more individual substrate layers selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material layer, preferably a polymeric material layer made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate, polystyrene or a mixture thereof, a fibrous material layer, preferably a fibrous material layer made of cellulose acetate, viscose, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid or a mixture thereof, a paper layer, a cardboard layer, a textile layer, a nonwoven fabric layer, a layer made of biomaterials, a wood layer, a bamboo layer, a metal foil layer, an aluminum layer, a print-receptive coating layer and a mixture thereof; the one or more individual substrate layers are optionally subjected to a corona treatment; and Preferably, the one or more individual substrate layers are selected from polymeric material layers. The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to [7].

[0325] [9] The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to [8], wherein the sheet-like element component further comprises: - one or more adhesive layers located on the substrate layer opposite the coating layer and / or between the individual substrate layers, preferably one or more adhesive layers selected from the group consisting of adhesives, sealants, rubber coatings, pressure-sensitive layers and mixtures thereof; and / or - one or more primer layers located between the substrate layer and the coating layer, and / or - one or more oxygen-permeable covering layers for covering said coating layer, preferably one or more oxygen-permeable covering layers selected from the group consisting of oxygen-permeable film layers, textile material layers and nonwoven textile layers, and / or - one or more protective layers for temporarily sealing the coating layer and / or the adhesive layer, preferably one or more protective layers selected from polyethylene, polypropylene and / or coated paper.

[0326]

[10] the alkaline component comprises a base selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide base, a carbonate base, an ammonia base, and a mixture thereof; Preferably, the base is selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof, and most preferably, the base is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, and sodium carbonate; The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to [9].

[0327]

[11] The alkaline component is an aqueous alkaline component containing the base and water; Preferably, - the pH of said aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, most preferably at least 12; and / or - the aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1% to 75% by weight, more preferably 5% to 60% by weight, most preferably 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component; The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to

[10] .

[0328] Aspect or embodiment

[12] : An activated sheet-like element formed from the kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to

[11] by adding the alkaline component to the coating layer of the sheet-like element component, the activated sheet-like element comprises a reaction product of the at least one oxygen scavenger and the base; Preferably, - adding the alkaline component in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalents, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalents, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalents, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalents, based on the molar amount of the oxygen scavenger; and / or - adding the alkaline component in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight, preferably 20 to 65% by weight, more preferably 35 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating layer; Activated sheet-like element.

[0329] Aspect or embodiment

[13] : A method for manufacturing a kit for improving the shelf life of food, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO + and the carbon dioxide is a reaction product of the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in an ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 groups, preferably R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 is a group, where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate layer comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; (h) pK of 6 or lower b providing an alkaline component comprising a base having a value of (i) mixing the alkaline component of step (h) with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water, wherein preferably - the pH of said aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, most preferably at least 12; and / or the aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1% to 75% by weight, more preferably 5% to 60% by weight, most preferably 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component.

[0330] Aspect or embodiment

[14] : A method for manufacturing a sheet-like element component, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and one or more HO +and the carbon dioxide is a reaction product of the HO + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in an ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is essentially a fully deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate layer comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; and (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; wherein the step (b) of providing at least one oxygen scavenger comprises the following substeps: (b1) providing at least one oxygen scavenger precursor that is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to each other, and R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and -R 1 is a carboxyl group, (b2) providing a basic compound; and (b3) reacting the carboxyl group of the oxygen scavenger precursor in step (b1) with the basic compound in step (b2) to obtain the oxygen scavenger.

[0331]

[15] The basic compound in step (b2) is selected from the group consisting of a carbonate base, a hydroxide base, a bicarbonate base, an amine base, and a mixture thereof; More preferably, it is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide, ammonia, and mixtures thereof; Most preferably, it is calcium carbonate. The method according to embodiment

[14] .

[0332]

[16] - mixing step (e) is carried out in the presence of a solvent, preferably water, and / or - the application step (f) is carried out by means of roller coating, dip coating, grooved rod coating, curtain coating, rigid blade coating, applicator roll coating, fountain coating, jet coating, short dwell coating, slotted die coating, curved blade coating, inclined blade coating, air knife coating, bar coating, gravure coating, conventional or metered size press coating, spray application techniques, screen printing and / or wet stack coating, preferably roller coating; and / or - drying step (g) is carried out at ambient or reduced pressure, preferably by hot air drying, IR radiation drying or UV radiation drying, at a temperature ranging from 50 to 150°C, The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[15] .

[0333]

[17] The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[16] , wherein the sheet-like element component comprises a coating layer comprising: - 0.1 to 1.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.1 to 1.0 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 1.0 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.5 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.4 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.3 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.4 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.3 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.2 cm 3 / g, and / or - 1 to 200 g / m on the base layer 2 , preferably 2 to 150 g / m 2 , more preferably 10 to 120 g / m 2 is present in an amount of Coating layer.

[0334]

[18] The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[17] , wherein the coating layer comprises: - the polymer binder in an amount of 10 to 20% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and / or - the particulate filler in an amount of 30 to 60% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and / or the oxygen scavenger in an amount of 30 to 60 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

[0335]

[19] The granular filler comprises the surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70 wt. %, preferably at least 90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the at least one granular filler, and most preferably the granular filler consists of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate; and the optionally present further particulate filler material is selected from the group consisting of dolomite, ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, talc, gypsum, titanium dioxide, kaolin, silicates, mica, barium sulfate, calcined clay, non-calcined (hydrous) clay, bentonite and mixtures thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate and mixtures thereof, most preferably the particulate filler consists of the optionally present further particulate filler material and the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[18] .

[0336]

[20] The surface-reacted calcium carbonate - 50-120m measured by the BET method2 / g and / or - 0.1 to 2.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.2 to 2.2 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.4 to 2.0 cm 3 / g, most preferably 0.6 to 1.8 cm 3 / g of total intraparticle indented specific pore volume, The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[19] .

[0337] [twenty one] - the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of phenolic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another, cinnamic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another, and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof; Even more preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; wherein the acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; Most preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is essentially fully deprotonated gallic acid, and / or - the at least one oxygen scavenger containing essentially fully deprotonated carboxyl groups comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, sodium, lithium, potassium, cesium, magnesium, calcium and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof; Most preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger comprises calcium cations. The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[20] .

[0338]

[22] The polymer binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the polymer binder is selected from polyacrylic acids, their salts, their derivatives and mixtures thereof. The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[21] .

[0339]

[23] The substrate layer comprises one or more individual substrate layers selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material layer, preferably a polymeric material layer made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate, polystyrene or a mixture thereof, a fibrous material layer, preferably a fibrous material layer made of cellulose acetate, viscose, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid or a mixture thereof, a paper layer, a cardboard layer, a textile layer, a nonwoven fabric layer, a layer made of biomaterials, a wood layer, a bamboo layer, a metal foil layer, an aluminum layer, a print-receptive coating layer and a mixture thereof; the one or more individual substrate layers are optionally subjected to a corona treatment; and Preferably, the one or more individual substrate layers are selected from polymeric material layers. The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[22] .

[0340]

[24] The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[23] , wherein the sheet-like element component further comprises: - one or more adhesive layers located on the substrate layer opposite the coating layer and / or between the individual substrate layers, preferably one or more adhesive layers selected from the group consisting of adhesives, sealants, rubber coatings, pressure-sensitive layers and mixtures thereof; and / or - one or more primer layers located between the substrate layer and the coating layer, and / or - one or more oxygen-permeable covering layers for covering said coating layer, preferably one or more oxygen-permeable covering layers selected from the group consisting of oxygen-permeable film layers, textile material layers and nonwoven textile layers, and / or - one or more protective layers for temporarily sealing the coating layer and / or the adhesive layer, preferably one or more protective layers selected from polyethylene, polypropylene and / or coated paper.

[0341]

[25] the alkaline component comprises a base selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide base, a carbonate base, an ammonia base, and a mixture thereof; Preferably, the base is selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof, and most preferably, the base is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, and sodium carbonate; The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[24] .

[0342]

[26] The alkaline component is an aqueous alkaline component containing the base and water; Preferably, - the pH of said aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, most preferably at least 12; and / or - the aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1% to 75% by weight, more preferably 5% to 60% by weight, most preferably 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component; The method according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[25] .

[0343] Aspect or embodiment

[27] : An activated sheet-like element formed from the kit according to any one of embodiments

[13] to

[26] by adding the alkaline component to the coating layer of the sheet-like element component, the activated sheet-like element comprises a reaction product of the at least one oxygen scavenger and the base; Preferably, - adding the alkaline component in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalents, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalents, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalents, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalents, based on the molar amount of the oxygen scavenger; and / or - adding the alkaline component in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight, preferably 20 to 65% by weight, more preferably 35 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating layer; Activated sheet-like element.

[0344]

[28] the alkaline component comprises a base selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide base, a carbonate base, an ammonia base, and a mixture thereof; The activated sheet-like element according to embodiment

[27] , comprising a base preferably selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate and mixtures thereof, most preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.

[0345] Aspect or embodiment

[29] : A method for activating a sheet-like element of the kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to

[11] , comprising the steps of: (j) mixing the alkaline component with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water; and (k) applying said aqueous alkaline component to at least a portion of the surface of said coating layer, wherein preferably - adding the alkaline component in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalents, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalents, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalents, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalents, based on the molar amount of the oxygen scavenger; and / or - adding said alkaline component in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight, preferably 20 to 65% by weight, more preferably 35 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of said coating layer; and / or The applying step (k) is carried out by inkjet printing, spraying, coating and / or dipping.

[0346]

[30] the alkaline component comprises a base selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide base, a carbonate base, an ammonia base, and a mixture thereof; 29. The method of claim 29, further comprising a base selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof, and most preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, and sodium carbonate.

[0347]

[31] The kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to

[11] , further comprising: a supply device containing said sheet-like element components, preferably a supply device comprising a roll or a magazine, or a food package comprising said sheet-like element component, said coating layer being present within said food package.

[0348]

[32] A feeding device comprising activated sheet-like elements according to embodiment

[27] or

[28] , wherein the feeding device protects the activated sheet-like elements from oxygen and preferably comprises a roll, stack, magazine or package, such as a box.

[0349] Aspect or embodiment

[33] : A food package comprising an activated sheet-like element according to embodiment

[27] or

[28] , wherein the coating layer is present within the food package.

[0350] Aspect or embodiment

[34] : Use of the kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to

[11] or the activated sheet-like element according to embodiment

[27] or

[28] in food packaging.

[0351] Aspect or embodiment

[35] : Use of the kit according to any one of embodiments [1] to

[11] or the activated sheet-like element according to embodiment

[27] or

[28] for extending the shelf life of food. The invention disclosed herein includes the following aspects: [1] A kit for improving the shelf life of food, including: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide and one or more H 3 O + the carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, 3 O + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the at least one oxygen scavenger is a compound having at least one phenyl ring with at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group; two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are positioned ortho or para to each other on the at least one phenyl ring; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 groups, preferably R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and - R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group, or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) pK of 6 or lower b Alkaline components including bases with values. [2] The kit according to [1] above, wherein the sheet-like element component comprises the following coating layer: - 0.1 to 1.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.1 to 1.0 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 1.0 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.5 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.4 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.3 cm 3 / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.4 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.08 to 0.3 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.1 to 0.2 cm 3 / g, and / or - 1 to 200 g / m on the base layer 2 , preferably 2 to 150 g / m 2 , more preferably 10 to 120 g / m 2 is present in an amount of Coating layer. [3] The kit according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the coating layer comprises: - the polymer binder in an amount of 10 to 20% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and / or - the particulate filler in an amount of 30 to 60% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, and / or the oxygen scavenger in an amount of 30 to 60 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer. [4] the granular filler comprises the surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the at least one granular filler, and most preferably the granular filler consists of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate; and the optionally present further particulate filler material is selected from the group consisting of dolomite, ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, talc, gypsum, titanium dioxide, kaolin, silicates, mica, barium sulfate, calcined clay, non-calcined (hydrous) clay, bentonite and mixtures thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate and mixtures thereof, most preferably the particulate filler consists of the optionally present further particulate filler material and the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, The kit according to any one of the above [1] to [3]. [5] The surface-reacted calcium carbonate - 50-120m measured by the BET method2 / g and / or - 0.1 to 2.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry 3 / g, preferably 0.2 to 2.2 cm 3 / g, more preferably 0.4 to 2.0 cm 3 / g, most preferably 0.6 to 1.8 cm 3 / g of total intraparticle indented specific pore volume, The kit according to any one of [1] to [4] above. [6] - the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of phenolic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another, cinnamic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another, and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of gallic acid derivatives, digallic acid derivatives, protocatechuic acid derivatives, caffeic acid derivatives, 5-hydroxyferulic acid derivatives, gentisic acid derivatives, orselliic acid derivatives, chebulic acid derivatives, phloroglucinol carboxylic acid derivatives, chicoric acid derivatives and mixtures thereof; Even more preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is a gallic acid derivative; wherein the acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters, and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids; Most preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger is essentially fully deprotonated gallic acid, and / or - the at least one oxygen scavenger containing essentially fully deprotonated carboxyl groups comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, sodium, lithium, potassium, cesium, magnesium, calcium and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof; Most preferably, the at least one oxygen scavenger comprises calcium cations. The kit according to any one of [1] to [5] above. [7] the polymer binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, salts thereof, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; Preferably, the polymer binder is selected from polyacrylic acids, their salts, their derivatives and mixtures thereof. The kit according to any one of the above [1] to [6]. [8] The substrate layer comprises one or more individual substrate layers selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material layer, preferably a polymeric material layer made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate, polystyrene or a mixture thereof, a fibrous material layer, preferably a fibrous material layer made of cellulose acetate, viscose, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid or a mixture thereof, a paper layer, a cardboard layer, a textile layer, a nonwoven fabric layer, a layer made of biomaterials, a wood layer, a bamboo layer, a metal foil layer, an aluminum layer, a print-receptive coating layer and a mixture thereof; the one or more individual substrate layers are optionally subjected to a corona treatment; and Preferably, the one or more individual substrate layers are selected from polymeric material layers. The kit according to any one of [1] to [7] above. [9] The kit according to any one of [1] to [8] above, wherein the sheet-like element component further comprises: - one or more adhesive layers located on the substrate layer opposite the coating layer and / or between the individual substrate layers, preferably one or more adhesive layers selected from the group consisting of adhesives, sealants, rubber coatings, pressure-sensitive layers and mixtures thereof; and / or - one or more primer layers located between the substrate layer and the coating layer, and / or - one or more oxygen-permeable covering layers for covering said coating layer, preferably one or more oxygen-permeable covering layers selected from the group consisting of oxygen-permeable film layers, textile material layers and nonwoven textile layers, and / or - one or more protective layers for temporarily sealing the coating layer and / or the adhesive layer, preferably one or more protective layers selected from polyethylene, polypropylene and / or coated paper.

[10] the alkaline component comprises a base selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide base, a carbonate base, an ammonia base, and a mixture thereof; Preferably, the base is selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof, and most preferably, the base is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, and sodium carbonate; The kit according to any one of [1] to [9] above.

[11] The alkaline component is an aqueous alkaline component containing the base and water; Preferably, - the pH of said aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, most preferably at least 12; and / or - the aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1% to 75% by weight, more preferably 5% to 60% by weight, most preferably 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component; Any one of the above [1] to

[10] The kit according to any one of the preceding claims.

[12] An activated sheet-like element formed from the kit according to any one of [1] to

[11] above by adding the alkaline component to the coating layer of the sheet-like element component, the activated sheet-like element comprises a reaction product of the at least one oxygen scavenger and the base; Preferably, - adding the alkaline component in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalents, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalents, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalents, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalents, based on the molar amount of the oxygen scavenger; and / or - adding the alkaline component in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight, preferably 20 to 65% by weight, more preferably 35 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating layer; Activated sheet-like element.

[13] A method for manufacturing a kit for improving the shelf life of food, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide and one or more H 3 O + the carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, 3 O + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in an ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -YR 1 groups, preferably R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 is a group, where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and - R 1 is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate layer comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; (h) pK of 6 or lower b providing an alkaline component comprising a base having a value of (i) mixing the alkaline component of step (h) with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water, wherein preferably - the pH of said aqueous alkaline component is at least 8, more preferably at least 10, even more preferably at least 11, most preferably at least 12; and / or the aqueous alkaline component comprises the base in an amount of 1% to 75% by weight, more preferably 5% to 60% by weight, most preferably 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous alkaline component.

[14] A method for producing a sheet-like element component, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide and one or more H 3 O + the carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, 3 O + formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source, and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a surface roughness of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. 2 / g, preferably 50 to 120m 2 / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in an ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and - R 1 is essentially a fully deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate layer comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; and (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; wherein the step (b) of providing at least one oxygen scavenger comprises the following substeps: (b1) providing at least one oxygen scavenger precursor that is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in the ortho or para position relative to each other, and R is selected from the group consisting of -YR 1 where - Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a -CH=CH- group, preferably Y is a direct bond, and - R 1 is a carboxyl group, (b2) providing a basic compound; and (b3) reacting the carboxyl group of the oxygen scavenger precursor in step (b1) with the basic compound in step (b2) to obtain the oxygen scavenger.

[15] The basic compound in step (b2) is selected from the group consisting of a carbonate base, a hydroxide base, a bicarbonate base, an amine base, and a mixture thereof; More preferably, it is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide, ammonia, and mixtures thereof; Most preferably, it is calcium carbonate. The method described in

[14] above.

[16] - mixing step (e) is carried out in the presence of a solvent, preferably water, and / or - the application step (f) is carried out by means of roller coating, dip coating, grooved rod coating, curtain coating, rigid blade coating, applicator roll coating, fountain coating, jet coating, short dwell coating, slotted die coating, curved blade coating, inclined blade coating, air knife coating, bar coating, gravure coating, conventional or metered size press coating, spray application techniques, screen printing and / or wet stack coating, preferably roller coating; and / or - drying step (g) is carried out at ambient or reduced pressure, preferably by hot air drying, IR radiation drying or UV radiation drying, at a temperature ranging from 50 to 150°C, The method according to any one of

[13] to

[15] above.

[17] A method for activating a sheet-like element of the kit according to any one of [1] to

[11] above, comprising the following steps: (j) mixing the alkaline component with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water; and (k) applying said aqueous alkaline component to at least a portion of the surface of said coating layer, wherein preferably - adding the alkaline component in an amount such that the base is added in an amount of at least 0.01 molar equivalents, preferably at least 0.02 molar equivalents, more preferably at least 0.05 molar equivalents, and even more preferably at least 0.1 molar equivalents, based on the molar amount of the oxygen scavenger; and / or - adding said alkaline component in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight, preferably 20 to 65% by weight, more preferably 35 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of said coating layer; and / or The applying step (k) is carried out by inkjet printing, spraying, coating and / or dipping.

[18] The kit according to any one of [1] to

[11] above, further comprising: a supply device containing said sheet-like element components, preferably a supply device comprising a roll or a magazine, or a food package comprising said sheet-like element component, said coating layer being present within said food package.

[19] A supply device comprising the activated sheet-like element according to

[12] above, the supply device protects the activated sheet-like element from oxygen and preferably comprises a roll, stack, magazine or package, such as a box, Feeding device.

[20] A food package comprising the activated sheet-like element according to

[12] above, wherein the coating layer is present within the food package.

[21] The food package according to

[20] above, wherein the food package contains food or foodstuffs, the food being selected from the group consisting of liquid and solid foods, preferably oxygen-sensitive foods including fresh and processed meat, poultry, beef, pork, ham, sausage, dried meat, fresh and processed fish, dairy products, bakery products, snacks, nuts and oilseeds, vegetables, confectionery, ready-to-eat meals and beverages, in particular orange juice.

[22] Use of the kit according to any one of [1] to

[11] above or the activated sheet-like element according to

[12] above in a food package.

[23] Use of the kit according to any one of [1] to

[11] above or the activated sheet-like element according to

[12] above for extending the shelf life of food.

[24] A packaged food product comprising a food product and a food package having the activated sheet-like element described in

[12] above, wherein the coating layer of the activated sheet-like element is present within the food package.

[25] The packaged food product of

[24] above, wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of liquid and solid foods, preferably oxygen-sensitive foods including fresh and processed meat, poultry, beef, pork, ham, sausage, dried meat, fresh and processed fish, dairy products, bakery products, snacks, nuts and oilseeds, vegetables, confectionery, ready-to-eat meals and beverages, in particular orange juice.

Claims

1. A kit to improve the shelf life of food, including: (a) a sheet-like element component having: (a1) a coating layer comprising: (i) a particulate filler in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer, wherein: the particulate filler comprises surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of the particulate filler; The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H ３ O ＋ and the carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, ３ O ＋ formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source; and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a viscosity of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. ２ / g; (ii) a polymeric binder in an amount of 5 to 25 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; and (iii) at least one oxygen scavenger in an amount of 25 to 70 wt. %, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer; the at least one oxygen scavenger is a compound having at least one phenyl ring with at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group; two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are positioned ortho or para to each other on the at least one phenyl ring; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -Y-R １ wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a —CH═CH— group, and -R １ is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group, or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; and (a2) a substrate layer, and (b) a pK of 6 or lower ｂ Alkaline components including bases with values.

2. 10. The kit of claim 1, wherein the sheet-like element component comprises a coating layer of: - 0.1 to 1.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry ３ / g, and / or - 0.05 to 1.0 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry ３ / g, and / or - 0.05 to 0.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry ３ / g of total interparticle intrusion specific pore volume, and / or - 0.05 to 0.4 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry ３ / g of total occluded specific pore volume; and / or - present on said substrate layer in an amount of 1 to 200 g / m 2 , Coating layer.

3. 3. The kit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the coating layer comprises: said polymeric binder in an amount of 10 to 20% by weight, based on the total dry weight of said coating layer, and / or - said particulate filler in an amount of 30 to 60% by weight, based on the total dry weight of said coating layer, and / or - the oxygen scavenger in an amount of 30 to 60% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the coating layer.

4. the particulate filler comprises the surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 70 wt. %, based on the total weight of the at least one particulate filler; and the further particulate filler material optionally present is selected from the group consisting of dolomite, ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, talc, gypsum, titanium dioxide, kaolin, silicates, mica, barium sulfate, calcined clay, non-calcined (hydrous) clay, bentonite and mixtures thereof; The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The surface-reacted calcium carbonate - 50-120m measured by the BET method ２ / g and / or - 0.1 to 2.5 cm, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry ３ / g of total intrusion specific pore volume in the range of The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the at least one oxygen scavenger is selected from the group consisting of phenolic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another, cinnamic acid derivatives having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups arranged in the ortho or para position relative to one another, and mixtures thereof; wherein the acid derivatives are selected from the group consisting of alkyl esters, aryl esters and essentially fully deprotonated acids of the respective acids, and / or the at least one oxygen scavenger containing essentially fully deprotonated carboxyl groups contains a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, sodium, lithium, potassium, cesium, magnesium, calcium and mixtures thereof; The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. the polymer binder is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, its salts, derivatives thereof, starch, protein, styrene butadiene latex, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and mixtures thereof; The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. the substrate layer comprises one or more individual substrate layers selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material layer, a fiber material layer, a paper layer, a cardboard layer, a textile layer, a nonwoven fabric layer, a layer made of biomaterials, a wood layer, a bamboo layer, a metal foil layer, an aluminum layer, a print-receptive coating layer and mixtures thereof; the one or more individual substrate layers are optionally subjected to a corona treatment; The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The kit of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sheet-like element component further comprises: one or more adhesive layers located on the substrate layer opposite the coating layer and / or between the individual substrate layers; and / or one or more primer layers located between the substrate layer and the coating layer, and / or one or more oxygen-permeable covering layers covering said coating layer, and / or - one or more protective layers to temporarily seal the coating layer and / or the adhesive layer.

10. 10. The kit of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the alkaline component comprises a base selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide base, a carbonate base, an ammonia base, and mixtures thereof.

11. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the alkaline component is an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water.

12. 12. An activated sheet-like element formed from the kit of any one of claims 1 to 11 by adding the alkaline component to the coating layer of the sheet-like element component, the activated sheet-like element comprises a reaction product of the at least one oxygen scavenger and the base; Activated sheet-like element.

13. A method for manufacturing a kit for improving the shelf life of food, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H ３ O ＋ and the carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, ３ O ＋ formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source; and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a viscosity of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. ２ / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in an ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or -Y-R １ is selected from the group consisting of: Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a —CH═CH— group, and -R １ is an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarboxyl group or an essentially completely deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate layer comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; (h) a pK of 6 or lower ｂ providing an alkaline component comprising a base having a value; and optionally, (i) mixing the alkaline component of step (h) with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water;

14. A method for manufacturing a sheet-like element component, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particulate filler comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an amount of at least 50% by weight, based on the total amount of particulate filler, wherein: The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a mixture of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H ３ O ＋ and the carbon dioxide is a reaction product with the ion donor, ３ O ＋ formed in situ by treatment with an ion donor and / or provided from an external source; and The surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a viscosity of 20 to 200 mm as measured by the BET method. ２ / g; (b) providing at least one oxygen scavenger which is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein: two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in an ortho or para position relative to one another; and R is -Y-R １ where Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a —CH═CH— group, and -R １ is essentially a fully deprotonated carboxyl group; (c) providing a polymeric binder; (d) providing a substrate layer comprising one or more individual substrate layers, or a food package comprising said substrate layer; (e) mixing said oxygen scavenger of step (b), said particulate filler of step (a), and said polymeric binder of step (c) in the order described herein to obtain a coating composition; (f) applying the coating composition of step (e) onto the substrate layer of step (d) to obtain a sheet-like element precursor; and (g) drying the sheet-like element precursor obtained in step (f) to obtain a sheet-like element component; wherein the step (b) of providing at least one oxygen scavenger comprises the following substeps: (b1) providing at least one oxygen scavenger precursor that is a compound having at least one phenyl ring having at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups and at least one R group, wherein two of the at least two phenolic hydroxyl groups are located on the at least one phenyl ring in an ortho or para position relative to each other, and R is -Y-R １ where Y is selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a —CH═CH— group, and -R １ is a carboxyl group, (b2) providing a basic compound; and (b3) reacting the carboxyl group of the oxygen scavenger precursor in step (b1) with the basic compound in step (b2) to obtain the oxygen scavenger.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the basic compound in step (b2) is selected from the group consisting of a carbonate base, a hydroxide base, a bicarbonate base, an amine base, and mixtures thereof.

16. the mixing step (e) is carried out in the presence of a solvent, and / or - the applying step (f) is carried out by means of roller coating, dip coating, grooved rod coating, curtain coating, rigid blade coating, applicator roll coating, fountain coating, jet coating, short dwell coating, slotted die coating, curved blade coating, inclined blade coating, air knife coating, bar coating, gravure coating, conventional or metered size press coating, spray application techniques, screen printing and / or wet stack coating; and / or drying step (g) is carried out at ambient or reduced pressure and at a temperature ranging from 50 to 150°C; The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

17. A method for activating a sheet-like element of a kit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the steps of: (j) mixing the alkaline component with water to obtain an aqueous alkaline component comprising the base and water; and (k) applying the aqueous alkaline component to at least a portion of the surface of the coating layer.

18. The kit of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: a supply device comprising said sheet-like element components, or a food package comprising said sheet-like element component, said coating layer being present within said food package.

19. 13. A feeding device comprising an activated sheet-like element according to claim 12, the supply device protects the activated sheet-like element from oxygen; Feeding device.

20. A food package comprising the activated sheet-like element of claim 12, wherein the coating layer is present within the food package.

21. 21. The food package of claim 20, wherein the food package contains a food or foodstuff, the food being selected from the group consisting of liquid and solid foods.

22. Use of a kit according to any one of claims 1 to 11 or an activated sheet-like element according to claim 12 in food packaging.

23. Use of a kit according to any one of claims 1 to 11 or an activated sheet-like element according to claim 12 for extending the shelf life of food products.

24. 13. A packaged food product comprising a food product and a food package having the activated sheet-like element of claim 12, wherein the coating layer of the activated sheet-like element is present within the food package.

25. 25. The packaged food product of claim 24, wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of liquid and solid foods.

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