AGELESS™, Oxygen absorber

About this product

AGELESS™ maintains a deoxidized environment (where the concentration of oxygen is 0.1% or lower) by absorbing oxygen in sealed containers and eliminates the ill effects of oxygen on food and others. It can preserve the taste and freshness of food over a long period of time.

“Iron absorbs oxygen when it rust.” “Prevent oxidation by eliminating oxygen.” Just by implementing a combination of such simple ideas, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical was able to develop AGELESS™ the world’s first free-oxygen absorbing agent. The free-oxygen absorbing agent, AGELESS™, absorbs oxygen in a sealed container and creates a deoxidized environment, where the concentration of oxygen is 0.1% or lower. This way, it is possible to preserve foods by eliminating the ill effects of oxygen. The free-oxygen absorbing agent AGELESS™ preserves both the taste and freshness of food. This outstanding feature of AGELESS™ also expands its application to pharmaceutical products, clothing, and cosmetics. AGELESS™ is also used widely to ward off mold as well as mites from clothing and bedding. AGELESS™ EYE Oxygen Indicator Biocidal Product Regulation in EU MGC's Oxygen Absorbers are not intended to be used for the following purposes in EU. - Preservation of food against insects - Preservation of cultural assets against insects and mildew and mold growth. For more detail, please refer to the following document.

Benefit of using AGELESS™ What is AGELESS™? The main constituent of AGELESS™ (iron type) *1 is a specially treated iron powder. When iron rusts, it absorbs oxygen in the process. The result is deoxygenation of the sealed container *2 through oxidation, preventing any bad affects to the product. *1 Other types of AGELESS™ use other organic matter such as vitamin C as their main constituents. *2 AGELESS™ is used to create a deoxygenated state within a sealed container. It cannot be used for any other purpose. The AGELESS™ process (outline) Oxygen makes up approximately 21% of the air in the atmosphere, however AGELESS™ absorbs all oxygen within a sealed container to create an oxygen free state (maintaining an oxygen concentration of 0.1% or less). As AGELESS™ absorbs more oxygen, the volume decreases and the gas remaining within the sealed container becomes mostly nitrogen, an inert gas. The ingredients of air Feature Free-oxygen absorbing agent AGELESS™ for preserving good taste and freshness AGELESS™ deoxidizes the interior of a sealed package in a way never before possible with conventional vacuum and gas replacement packaging. Even small amounts of oxygen, which infiltrate through the film surface are removed completely. AGELESS™ is a truly epochal taste and freshness preserving agent. The flavor, color, fragrance and nutrition of freshly prepared food can now be retained for long periods of time. Free-oxygen absorbing agent AGELESS™ assures safety and quality. AGELESS™ prevents the growth of molds and aerobic bacteria, while also preventing harmful insects. Oxidized oils and fats are a detriment to good health. They can be prevented by the deoxidization effect of AGELESS™. Reducing amount of food additive. Various tests conducted by official organizations have confirmed the safety of AGELESS™. AGELESS™ has been awarded the ISO9001 Quality System Certification. Simple and effective free-oxygen absorbing agent Conventional packaging such as vacuum packing and gas flushing package packing require devoted facilities, but you can use AGELESS™ just by providing a sealing machine. AGELESS™ can be inserted quickly and simply by using an automatic inserter. AGELESS™ has made the ‘distribution revolution’ possible. Extending a food's shelf life allows food manufacturers to market greater varieties of food and expand their markets, while still retaining their maximum taste and freshness. AGELESS™ allows for the simple and easy control of production and inventory.

Effectiveness of AGELESS™ AGELESS™ Prevents Molds. In an oxygen-free atmosphere (oxygen concentration of 0.1% or lower) , AGELESS™ shows a marked ability to suppress the growth of molds. The experimental results tabulated below show the growth progress of blue molds even when food items are stored under rigorous inert gas replacement packaging technology. A small amount of oxygen seeping in through the film raises the oxygen concentration to 0.3%, where blue molds are detected. Food items sealed with the AGELESS™ did not show this mold development. Prevents color changes (25℃ x 1month) Growth of blue molds in sponge cake and oxygen concentration (at 25℃) Test Method: Blue mold specimen was implanted in the sponge cake to compare its grown in an AGELESS™ Pack environment and inert gas (nitrogen) replaced packaging. Note 1)The oxygen concentration for the AGELESS™ is that measured after the absorption of free oxygen. Note 2)The percentages appearing in parentheses for inert gas replacement packaging indicate the rate of replaced gas. Note 3)Growth of mold colonies (-) no mold colonies detected (+) observable mold colonies (++) large numbers of mold colonies.

Various Types of AGELESS™ for Various Purposes Select the AGELESS™ type that best suits your purposes. Place AGELESS™ with food in a container or film wrapping which is impermeable to oxygen. Thoroughly seal the container or the film sheet. When inserting AGELESS™ manually, you only need a heat-sealing machine for easy and simple packaging. An automatic AGELESS™ inserting machine, suitable for interlocked operation with existing automatic food packaging machines is available to allow continuous AGELESS™ insertion. Iron Type Non Iron Type Caution Iron Type Water Dependent Oxygen absorption starts only in a high-temperature, moist environment. Caution Type Main Application Water activity of product to be applied FX FX Rice cakes, dumplings, raw noodles, raw laver, soybean paste, bread crumbs, fermented soybeans, etc. 0.85～0.99 FX-L Waffles, delicacies, ham, sausage, chicken nuggets, pizza crust, picked vegetables, seasoned fish, pet foods, etc. FJ Salami, individually packaged cookies and candies. 0.80～0.99 What is Water activity(AW) Water Activity (AW) is the ratio water vapor pressure (p) generated by the product itself, to the maximum vapor pressure (Po) at a given temperature. lt is also shown by the balanced relative humidity (RH%) generated by moisture transpired from the product when it is packed in a closed container. Regular Acting Type for foods with low or medium water content Type Main Application Water activity of product to be applied ZP ZP Z-PT Doughnuts, cakes, fresh cakes, brandy cakes, salami, beef jerky, pet foods and the like. 0.95 or less Z-PK Coffee, tea, nuts, dried vegetables, spices, laver (seaweed), and pharmaceutical products. 0.65 or less ZJ-PT ZJ-PK ZJ-PT ZJ-PK Individually packed cakes and cookies, rea bags, etc. 0.95 or less 0.65 or less Coffee Oxygen and carbon dioxide are both absorbed simultaneously. Type Main Application Water activity of product to be applied E E Coffee 0.3 or less Non Iron Type Main components are organic, thus this type of AGELESS™ will not affect a metal detector. Self-Reacting Oxygen Absorbing Type Type Main Application Water activity of product to be applied GLS GLS Ham, sausage, chicken nuggets, etc. 0.3～0.95 GL-M GL-M This type can support a metal detector. 0.3～0.95 Multi-Function Type Carbon dioxide generation starts simultaneous with absorption of oxygen. Prevents food containers from shrinking when oxygen is absorbed. Type Main Application Water activity of product to be applied GE GE Rice cakes, nuts, dried fish, etc. 0.3～0.9 Caution Each series is futher devided into types more applicable to specific product situations. For more information, please ask sales office about detailed types of AGELESS™.

How to make an AGELESS™ pack The AGELESS™ can be combined with a high gas barrier packing material to absorb the oxygen within an airtight package and maintain an oxygen free state for a certain period of time. This type of packing is referred to as an “AGELESS™ Pack”. Four conditions to maintain an oxygen free state Condition 1 Use packing material with a high gas barrier In order to maintain an oxygen free state for a certain period of time, select packing material with a high resistance to oxygen permeability. AGELESS™ Pack use materials with a high gas barrier such as plastics, trays, metal cans and glass bottles. Condition 2 Select AGELESS™ that suits the product characteristics and volume of container packing To ensure that the container is deoxygenated within the required time, select a type of AGELESS™ that suits the product characteristics and packaging form, and select the size that suits the amount of oxygen in the packaging. Condition 3 Create a perfect seal with a sealing machine AGELESS™ Pack must be completely sealed to maintain their oxygen free state. A heat sealer can be used to seal the container. Condition 4 Correct handling of AGELESS™ Inappropriate handling of AGELESS™ can render the product useless. Handling conditions differ according to the type, so the conditions for sealing, use and storage explained in the instruction manual should be followed promptly and accurately. Check of the effects with an actual test Once an AGELESS™ Pack has been created, an actual test should be performed to check the effects of sealing. Actual test procedures Use the following procedures to test the actual shape of the product. Insert the prepared product into the packaging. Insert AGELESS™ and AGELESS EYE™ into the packaging. The deoxygenation time will differ depending on the position of the AGELESS™. Test the packaging with the AGELESS™ positioned as it will be used in the final product. Use a heat sealer or wrapping machine to seal the package. Enter the expected opening date of the package and store under the prescribed storage conditions (temperature etc). Open the package after checking (immediately after opening in the case of a can) the color of AGELESS EYE™ to determine whether deoxygenation is complete for each opening date, and check the quality of the product. Check the appearance, smell and taste of the product. Determine the use-by-date. Planning for the actual test Products should be placed in the same production lot with the quantity to match the number of tests to be performed. Set the test period in relation to the target use-by-date. Products with good storage life can have a longer time before opening, whereas the time for products with poor storage should be shortened. Several quality assurance officers should be assigned to check the quality of the product. The same officer should check the quality of the product each time. A test plan should be created to assist in tests with many different conditions.

How to use AGELESS™ 1. Opening the carton box. When opening box, avoid using too sharp an edge. (There is a possibility of damaging pouches). 2. Check tightness of the master bag. AGELESS™ is vacuum packed. if you hang master bag from one end, the packets should not slip. In case the packets should slip before opening DO NOT USE that master bag of AGELESS™. 3. After opening master bag. Spread out the needed quantity on a tray. 4. Remaining AGELESS™. The sachets which are not used should be resealed in a master bag or discarded if their exposure to air exceeds the maximum. The remaining sachets should be resealed in the pouch after pressing out the air. Caution Do not pile up AGELESS™ in the tray. Do not use AGELESS™ one by one, leaving the pouch open to air.

Handling products in continuous rolls Always check before use The product is packed in a vacuum packed external packaging to prevent permeation by oxygen. By checking the state of the vacuum, minute holes created during transport or handling, as well as damage to the exterior can be checked. How to check for vacuum of roll products Confirm that the master bag is vacuum packed against the cardboard walls of the roll Take hold of the master bag at the center hole of the roll and gently pull the bag away from the roll. If the bag returns to it’s original vacuum sealed position, the master bag is properly sealed and the product can be used as normal. How to check for vacuum of belt products Check that the external packing is bumpy along the belt upper surface Contact us if a vacuum cannot be determined using this method

AGELESS™ Usage Precautions AGELESS™ suppresses growth of microorganisms AGELESS™ effectively suppresses the growth of molds and other aerobic microorganisms. However, it does not suppress obligatory anaerobes, microaerophiles, facultative anaerobes and yeast. Before using AGELESS™ in food packages that are susceptible to these microorganisms, it is necessary to conduct tests under the actual packing and distribution conditions. Combined use of AGELESS™ with refrigeration and other food preserving methods is recommended. (Note that the growth of mold cannot be fully prevented by AGELESS™ under certain packaging conditions.) ※Note that the growth of mold cannot be fully prevented by AGELESS™ under certain packaging conditions. Precautions for AGELESS™ Use in Microwave Ovens Remove AGELESS™ when heating any food package containing AGELESS™. If AGELESS™ is microwaved, it might spark, scorch the package, and, on rare occasions, ignite. If AGELESS™ is likely to be microwaved with food, it is necessary to include precautions to prevent heating of AGELESS™. Some types of AGELESS™ can be safely used in a microwave. Heat generation Upon opening a food package containing AGELESS™, the rapid oxidation of AGELESS™ may generate heat. However, the amount of heat generated is moderate, insufficient to cause ignition or generally insufficient to cause burns. The temperature and the amount of heat generated and the time following exposure to the air required for heat generation depend upon the type of AGELESS™ and the conditions of packaging. Tanning of food with AGELESS™ AGELESS™ inserted in packages of raw meat, redfish meat, processed squid, and Chinese noodles may tan the color of such food items. Conduct tests before using AGELESS™ under actual packaging conditions. For persistent tanning problems, contact our sales representative. Further precautions Be sure to read the AGELESS™ Users' Manual before using any of the AGELESS™ products. It is recommended that every user conduct AGELESS™ tests under actual usage conditions to verify its effectiveness. Contact our office directly or our sales representative for your copy of the AGELESS™ Users' Manual. Biocidal Product Regulation in EU MGC's Oxygen Absorbers are not intended to be used for the following purposes in EU. - Preservation of food against insects - Preservation of cultural assets against insects and mildew and mold growth. For more detail, please refer to the following document.

AGELESS™ Q&A for end of user for consumer for end of user Q1. Can AGELESS™ be used for liquid products? A：Liquid in an oxygen-permeable container can be stored with AGELESS™ in an oxygen-barrier outer package. Even dissolved Oxygen can be absorbed by AGELESS™ through the container material after a while. Note: AGELESS™ is not designed to be in direct contact with liquid. Q2. Can AGELESS™ be used at low temperature? A：Lower temperatures slow oxygen absorption rates. However, since product deterioration usually slows down at low temperature while activity of microorganisms also slows down, slower oxygen absorption does not create a problem. We also offer our special type of AGELESS™, which SS type for frozen foods. Q3. Can AGELESS™ be used with vacuum packages? A：Since the amount of air is already decreased in a vacuum package, a smaller size AGELESS™ can be selected. However, in the case of a strong vacuum ratio, place the AGELESS™ into a free air-flow stream, with some distance between the product and the packaging film. Q4. Can AGELESS™ be used with gas purge packaging? A：AGELESS™ can be used with the nitrogen gas replacement system. However, this combination will result in a slow rate of oxygen absorption due to the low initial oxygen concentration; therefore, select a larger size of AGELESS™ to compensate for the delay in oxygen absorption. In addition, gas replacement will tend to result in an imbalanced replacement rate; therefore, when using AGELESS™ with gas purge, please use a size of AGELESS™ larger than the calculated size. Carbon dioxide gas replacement and mixed carbon dioxide-nitrogen gas replacement are not recommended for use with AGELESS™, as carbon dioxide will inhibit the oxygen absorption of AGELESS™. Q5. Can AGELESS™ be used with high-temperature sterilization methods? A：If AGELESS™ is used with high-moisture products in boiling or retort sterilization the AGELESS™ sachet may rupture, depending on the food characteristics, packaging form, and heating conditions. please make a test with the actual packaging material to judge the applicability of use. Q6. Will the deoxygenation rate be affected by the location in which AGELESS™ is placed in the container? A：Yes. Generally, AGELESS™ will eliminate oxygen more quickly when placed directly on the product. Even with self-reacting AGELESS™ types, deoxygenation will take longer when placed under the food tray than if placed on the product; therefore, application tests should be conducted with AGELESS™ placed at the chosen location under actual conditions. Q7. Sometimes AGELESS™ heats up during production packaging; is this normal? A：If the master bag containing a self-reacting type of AGELESS™ is left open, or if the individual packets are taken one by one from the master bag, heat generated from the reactions of AGELESS™ may accumulate in the bag, causing the bag to feel hot. Always spread ou the packets on a tray to avoid decreased performance. The roll and belt types may become hot during use, but this will not affect performance as long as they are used within the specified working time. Q8. I use only a small quantity of AGELESS™ at a time. Will opening and closing the master bag affect the performance of AGELESS™ ? A：Repeated opening and closing of the master bag is not desirable, as it will cause the AGELESS™ to repeatedly come into contact with air. We recommend that you divide the AGELESS™ into small quantities and place these in bags constructed from a high gas barrier material so as to reduce the frequency of contact between AGELESS™ and the atmosphere. Q9.We had no problems in winter, but food spoilage occurred sooner when it became warmer. A： In winter, the air temperature is low and the air is dry; consequently, the ability of microorganisms to propagate is reduced. The amount of microorganisms in the production environment and the initial number of viable bacteria are reduced, and microorganism growth during storage is suppressed; thus, food can be stored efficiently. However, when the weather is warm, microorganisms such as yeast and facultative anaerobes, which can grow in anaerobic conditions, will grow rapidly and may cause earlier food spoilage. Generally, when AGELESS™ is used with food susceptible to the growth of mold and food spoilage, storage testing in winter alone is not sufficient. Please conduct storage testing of the actual packaging material again during seasons with higher air temperatures, reevaluate the type and size of AGELESS™ used, and set the expire date accordingly.Please note that AGELESS™ and other oxygen absorbers conduct are not effective in preventing spoilage due to anaerobic microorganisms. You should always carefully test your product to determine whether you have a problem with thaese organisms or not. for consumer Q1. How can AGELESS™ be disposed of? A：The material in AGELESS™ packing is made from plastic film that includes paper. It should be disposed of by adhering to local community regulations. Q2. What happens if AGELESS™ is accidentally consumed? A：The main constituents of AGELESS™ include iron powder and vitamin C, while the main constituents of AGELESS EYE™ include inorganic salts and colorants. These constituents have been confirmed to be safe in acute toxicity tests by official institutions. The packing materials used in AGELESS™ and AGELESS EYE™ pass standard regulations for food containers, plates and packing set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare notice 370 issued in 1959 and notice 20 issued in 1982 as a material that is able to come in direct contact with foodstuff. What if the powder in AGELESS™ comes in contact with my eye? This may cause scarring on the eye. Wash with copious quantities of water and seek medical advice from a doctor. What if AGELESS™ (AGELESS EYE™) packing is swallowed whole? This may damage the esophagus and digestive organs. Seek medical advice from a doctor. What if the powder in AGELESS™ comes in contact with my skin? Wash with soap. What if the powder in AGELESS™ accidentally enters my mouth? Wash your mouth out with water. What if AGELESS™ is boiled (with noodles etc) ? While there are no health concerns, the iron powder and other components may adversely affect the taste of the food. If the AGELESS™ packing is ripped open, the iron powder may become mixed with food. Eating the food is not recommended in this case. Q3. I warmed up a food product which contains AGELESS™ in a microwave oven. A：AGELESS™ must be removed before warming up a food container with AGELESS™ in a microwave oven. If AGELESS™ is left remaining and warmed up, the product may cause sparking and burn the container, possibly catching alight. Sterilized rice and similar products may use containers that can be used in a microwave. Refer to the notes on the packaging for more information. Q4. The AGELESS™ has become hot. A：When opening foodstuff packaging, oxidation may cause the AGELESS™ to become hot. The amount of heat released is small and should not result in burns. There is also no concern for fire. The amount of heat released and time will differ with the type and packing of AGELESS™. Q5. Can AGELESS™ be reused? A：AGELESS™ cannot be reused. After foodstuff has been opened, remove and dispose of AGELESS™.

AGELESS™ Peripherals For the more versatile use of AGELESS™ products AGELESS™ automatic insertion machine When connected to an automatic packing machine, pieces of AGELESS™ are cut from a roll and inserted one at a time. Irregular operations are also linked, providing an efficient method of sealing. Its compact design means it can be installed and connected to existing packing machines. AGELESS™ seal check Checks the film seals and production flaws. One-touch spray type. AGELESS™ roll storage bag No. 2 This bag is used to store the completed AGELESS™ roll. With a zip seal, a vacuum cleaner can be used to remove air easily.