An assembly containing sweetened condensed milk

Abstract

 The present invention concerns an assembly comprising a shelf-stable sweetened condensed milk in a plastic container (1) with a closure (7) and an inert gas headspace, wherein said container (1) is made with a gas and light barrier material.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns an assembly containing sweetened condensed milk.

[0002] It is already known on the market to have sweetened condensed milk. In this case, the product is usually packaged in a tin plate can of which the empty packaging is usually sterilised prior to filling. According to this solution, the head space in the can is small. This is due to the fact that the presence of oxygen in that headspace could lead to a growth of moulds. Furthermore, this sort of solution is very traditional and not convenient for the consumer, because after the first opening, it is necessary to use said product quickly.

[0003] The aim of the present invention is to offer to the consumer an assembly containing shelf stable sweetened condensed milk, wherein the growth of moulds is suppressed, wherein the presentation is more modern and wherein it is possible to keep the product in the refrigerator during up to four weeks after the first opening without any negative effect on the organoleptic or bacteriologic side.

[0004] The present invention concerns an assembly comprising a shelf-stable sweetened condensed milk in a plastic container with a closure and an inert gas headspace, wherein said container is made with a gas and light barrier material.

[0005] It is important that according to the invention, the head space is filled with an inert gas to avoid the growth of moulds and secondly that the plastic container preserves the milk from light and oxygen. Under shelfstable, we understand in the present specification , a product which can be preserved during at least 12 months without any refrigeration.

[0006] The closure on the top of the container is a membrane which is sealed. This membrane is a heat sealable aluminium membrane. Furthermore, this membrane comprises a moisture barrier, due to the inclusion of materials like aluminium. The sealing is absolutely gastight.

[0007] As already mentioned before, because of the sealing of the above mentioned membrane, it is absolutely obligatory to avoid any risk of the presence of droplets of sweetened condensed milk between said membrane and the rim of the container. It is thus necessary to have a headspace of adequate volume to achieve this. This headspace is flushed to eliminate substantially the oxygen and the inert gas comprises CO₂. The headspace comprises CO₂ and nitrogen.

[0008] The amount of CO₂ in the headspace depends on the type of the used container. This amount is normally up to 80 %. Concerning the headspace, all the amounts are given in volume. Most preferably, the amount of CO₂ in the headspace is around 20 to 60 %. The CO₂ is the major contributor to inhibit the growing of moulds.

[0009] The amount of residual oxygen in the headspace is lower or equal to 5 %. More preferably, the amount of oxygen is as low as possible.

[0010] The volume of the headspace is comprised between 5 and 100 cm³. More preferably, the volume of the headspace is comprised between 10 and 30 cm³. The container used has normally a volume for 100 to 1000 cm³ for the sweetened condensed milk. More preferably, the volume of the container is around 400 to 600 cm³.

[0011] According to a first embodiment, the container is a bottle comprising a bottom, lateral walls and a neck with a screwthread on the outside and a rim, the membrane being sealed on said rim. According to this embodiment, there is a second closure screwed on the neck of the bottle covering the membrane and presenting a circular aperture with a valve positioned in said aperture and a snap lid closing said valve. The drawings here below will show in more detail this embodiment.

[0012] According to a second embodiment of the assembly, the container is a plastic cup, like cups used for yoghurts. In this case, the volume of condensed milk is more around 100-200 cm3.

[0013] The container is either blow moulded, thermoformed or injected and made of a multilayered material. The thermoforming includes both possibilities of preforming and non preforming.

[0014] To prevent moisture loss from the sweetened condensed milk, the multilayered material contains a moisture barrier.

[0015] As an example, the multilayered material comprises the following layers : HDPE layer, light barrier layer, EVOH, HDPE. In this case, there is an adhesive layer between EVOH and HDPE layers, as well as between EVOH and light barrier layer.

[0016] Another possibility is to have a multilayered material comprising following layers : PP, light barrier layer, EVOH, PP. As for the preceding example, an adhesive layer is disposed between Light barrier layer and EVOH and between EVOH and PP. Under light barrier layer, we understand barrier to light to be less than or equal to 5 % transmittance in the orthochromatic range, that being between 420 and 700 nm. The EVOH layer has normally a thickness of greater than 20 microns.

[0017] It is also possible according to the invention to have as multilayered material similarly performing materials as PP, HDPE and EVOH. For example, PS.

[0018] The sweetened condensed milk according to the invention is a milk based product with an aw in the range comprised between 0.7 and 0.9. For example products detailed in CODEX STANDARD FOR SWEETENED CONDENSED MILKS (CODEX STAN A-4-1971, Rev. 1-1999), or product versions with flavours and colours, or products where milk components have been replaced by non-milk components (eg modified starch) are filled in the container. According to one feature, the product does not contain any preservative. Furthermore, according to another feature, the condensed milk is not sterilised before the filling.

[0019] The whole packaging material is not sterilised prior to filling. The container is squeezable and has normally a thickness comprised between 200 and 800 microns.

[0020] The way to prepare the assembly according to the invention is following. The sweetened condensed milk is prepared according to a technique known from the man skilled in the art. The empty bottles are placed on a moving conveyor belt, the filling of every bottle is carried out from this conveyor belt under hygienic filling conditions and the headspace is gassed with CO₂ and nitrogen and the aluminium membrane is finally sealed on the rim of said container. The second closure is then screwed on the top of the container and a shrink sleeve forms the envelope of the assembly. The bottles are then ready to be packed in a cardboard outer container.

[0021] The invention is now illustrated, by way of example, in the attached drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the second closure and

Fig. 3 is a top view of the valve.

[0022] The plastic bottle (1) is blow moulded and comprises the following layers :
HDPE, light barrier layer, adhesive layer, EVOH, adhesive layer and HDPE.
This bottle comprises a bottom (2), lateral walls (3), a neck (4) with a screwthread (5) and a rim (6) on the top of the neck. The bottle is filled with the sweetened condensed milk, goes through the gassing area (nitrogen and CO₂) and then the sealing of the membrane (not shown) is carried out on the rim (6) of the bottle. In this case, the headspace contains 20 % of CO₂ and 80 % of nitrogen. The container is then shelf stable and can be kept at least 12 months.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows the second closure (7) comprising a skirt (8), a recess (9) and a circular and central aperture (10). This aperture is closed with a valve shown in the following figure. The top of the closure (7) comprises further a snap lid (11) with a hinge (13), said snap lid presenting a protrusion (12) abutting by the closing of the snap lid against the valve.

[0024] According to figure 3, the valve (14) is made with silicon or rubber and comprises and edge (15), which fits with a corresponding groove (not shown) in the aperture (10) of the closure (7) and a central part (16) presenting a cutting in the form of a cross (17).

[0025] When the consumer wants to use the bottle, he has to open closure (7), takes off the membrane on the rim (6) of the bottle, screws said closure on the screwthread of the bottle, opens the snap lid (11) and pours the sweetened condensed milk. When he is finished, he can close the snap lid (11), and then puts the bottle in the refrigerator. When the bottle is opened, it must be used in the 4 following weeks.

Explanation of the abbreviations :

[0026] 

EVOH = Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol

PP = Polypropylene

PE = Polyethylene

PS = Polystyrene

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a shelf-stable sweetened condensed milk in a plastic container with a closure and an inert gas headspace, wherein said container is made with a gas and light barrier material.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the closure is a membrane sealed on the top of the container.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the membrane is a heat sealable aluminium membrane.

4. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inert gas headspace comprises CO₂.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the inert gas headspace comprises CO₂ and nitrogen.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the amount of CO₂ in the headspace is up to 80 %.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the amount of CO₂ in the headspace is around 20 to 60 %.

8. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the volume of the headspace is comprised between 5 and 100 cm³.

9. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the amount of residual oxygen in the headspace is lower or equal to 5 %.

10. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the container is a plastic cup.

11. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the container is a bottle comprising a bottom, lateral walls and a neck with a screwthread on the outside and a rim, the membrane being sealed on said rim.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein it comprises further a second closure screwed on the neck of the bottle and presenting a circular aperture with a valve positioned in said aperture.

13. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the container is blow moulded, thermoformed or injected and made of a multilayered material.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the multilayered material comprises further a moisture barrier.

15. An assembly according to claims 13 or 14, wherein the multilayered material has following layers : HDPE layer, light barrier layer, EVOH, HDPE.

16. An assembly according to claims 13 or 14, wherein the multilayered material has following layers : PP, light barrier layer, EVOH, PP.

17. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the sweetened condensed milk ios a milk based product with an aw in the range comprised between 0.7 and 0.9.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, wherein the sweetened condensed milk has no preservative.

19. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the container is squeezable.

Drawing