When you open a Meels container, the meal inside looks and tastes like it was just prepared — even though it may have been sealed days ago. This isn't magic, and it's not preservatives. It's Modified Atmosphere Packaging, or MAP, and it's one of the most effective food preservation technologies available.
How MAP Works
The air we breathe is roughly 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases. MAP works by replacing the air inside a sealed food container with a carefully calibrated gas mixture — typically increasing nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide while reducing oxygen.
Why does this matter? Because oxygen is the primary driver of food spoilage. It feeds aerobic bacteria, causes oxidation (browning, rancidity), and accelerates nutrient degradation. By reducing oxygen levels inside the package, MAP dramatically slows all three processes.
The Gas Mixture
Different foods require different gas ratios:
- High-protein foods (meat, fish): Higher CO₂ concentration inhibits bacterial growth
- Fruits and vegetables: Reduced O₂ slows respiration and ripening
- Prepared meals: A balanced nitrogen-CO₂ mix that preserves both texture and flavour
MAP vs. Traditional Preservation
Traditional preservation methods each come with tradeoffs. Freezing damages cell structure. Chemical preservatives raise health concerns. Vacuum packing crushes delicate foods. Canning requires extreme heat that degrades nutrients and texture.
MAP preserves food in its natural state — no structural damage, no chemical additives, no thermal degradation. The meal you eat on day seven tastes remarkably similar to the meal on day one.
Extended Shelf Life Without Compromise
With MAP, our meals maintain freshness for up to 7 days under refrigeration. This means less food waste, more flexibility in when you eat, and the confidence that every meal delivers the quality our chefs intended.
It's a simple principle: change the atmosphere, extend the freshness. No freezing. No preservatives. Just science working in service of better food.