Question

Which of the following is commonly used as oxygen scavenger in food packaging?

• A. Powdered iron
• B. Calcium
• C. Potassium permanganate
• D. Chlorine

Hint:

Think of the small "Do Not Eat" packets found in jerky, nuts, or cured meats. These are oxygen scavengers, and they almost always contain iron powder that "rusts" to remove oxygen and extend shelf life.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
An oxygen scavenger is a substance used in active packaging systems. It is placed inside a sealed package to remove or "scavenge" residual oxygen from the headspace, thereby protecting the food product from oxygen-related deterioration like microbial growth and oxidative rancidity.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- Powdered iron is the most common chemical used in commercial oxygen scavengers. It works through a simple oxidation process (rusting): iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of water to form iron oxide. This reaction effectively consumes the oxygen inside the package, reducing the level to below 0.01%.
- Calcium is primarily used as a desiccant (to absorb moisture), not an oxygen scavenger.
- Potassium permanganate is an ethylene scavenger, used to slow the ripening of fruits and vegetables by oxidizing the ethylene gas they produce.
- Chlorine is a strong oxidizing agent used for sanitation and disinfection, not for scavenging oxygen within a food package.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Powdered iron is the standard material used in oxygen scavenging sachets for food packaging. Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.