Retail packages of sweet corn (film-wrapped trays containing a pair of trimmed cobs) were stored at 2°C within
additional plastic liners. The modified atmosphere (MA), generated in these nested packages by corn respiration,
complied with the recommended range of 5–10 kPa CO2 and inhibited mold growth. Opening the liner after transfer
to non-refrigerated conditions compensated for the respiration rise caused by elevated temperature, maintained the
desirable MA range and prevented fermentation and off-flavor development. The produce kept for 2 weeks at 2°C
within nested packages, and for 4 additional days at 20°C, and combined relatively low microbial spoilage with
acceptable organoleptic quality, provided the liners were open at 20°C. The method was successfully tested during a
trial shipment of sweet corn from Israel to Europe. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Sweet corn; Zea mays L.; Packaging; Modified atmosphere; Storage temperature; Fermentation; Oxygen; Carbon dioxide