Customers often complain that chip making companies sell more air than they sell chips. It might be frustrating when you open up a bag of chips only to find that the bag contains mostly air and just a handful of chips. Are companies being greedy packaging air in their packaging pouches?

There are many reasons why this air is packed in snack pouches. The air consists mostly of nitrogen, and the process of filling the bag with air is called nitrogen flushing. It is a food preservation method that is used generally with foods like nuts, coffee beans, snack crackers, rice cakes, and chips. This is the reason why most people complain about ‘air’ in their bag of chips. But this is not the air that we normally breathe, because the packet doesn’t have oxygen.

Why not oxygen? Because when processed food comes in contact with oxygen, it starts deteriorating. The food gets discolored and the oil goes rancid. Oxygen inside the packet can be removed by removing all air with a vacuum device, which increases the shelf life of chips.

Regular vacuuming works well for solid and tough foods like beef jerky (although it is not recommended as it crumples the packet), it does not work for delicate foods like crackers and chips. These foods need to be protected against breaking while they are being shipped. Customers don’t like to buy crackers that are all crushed up. This is why the stand up bags are filled with nitrogen so that the air acts like a padding agent to protect chips and crackers.

There are many reasons for selecting nitrogen to fill up standup pouches. It does not react with foods like the way oxygen does. So your snacks remain fresh for long and the flavor, aroma, and texture of your food stay intact. The problem begins when you open the pack. Once the packet is opened, the nitrogen is released, and your food is no longer protected. You can use zippers to keep the snacks safe from the outside world, but it will not keep the nitrogen inside. The best option is to consume the contents once the packet is opened. However, if you want to sell bigger packets, it is always a good idea to add zippers. This would make sure that the snacks are protected from dust and moisture, keeping them safe and crunchy.

So the next time you buy a packet of chips, keep in mind that the ‘air’ inside the packet is there to protect them, and not to charge you extra.