We have received a handful of emails regarding oxygen indicators so here’s a quick post about what they are and how they work.

If you have purchased oxygen absorbers you may have noticed this small pink dot in the package, this is the oxygen absorber indicator.Thie oxygen indicator is a visual confirmation that your oxygen absorbers package is fresh and will do its intended job when used. Normally, each package of oxygen absorbers will bring one indicator and it should be pink if the package is sealed correctly. The color of the indicator may vary from bright pink to a reddish hue when the packaged is sealed, indicating that there is no oxygen in the package and the absorbers are good. Once the package is opened and exposed, you will notice the indicator rapidly changing color and turn blue. Please keep in mind that it does not mean your oxygen absorbers are compromised, they don’t get full that quick.

Although they are very reliable, they are a cheap technology and not intended to be reused...but they WILL USUALLY work again. However, be aware that it can take a day to several days in an oxygen-free environment before it returns to the pink color.

What if the oxygen indicator is not quite pink nor blue, but more purple?

This happens often, especially during our busy season because our products fly off the shelves so fast and we use priority shipping. Indicators will sometimes take over a week to become pink and when we are busy they don’t get the time they need. It is our policy not to ship the packages until they are pink, but it is also our policy to ship our buyer's orders quickly and fast shipping usually wins out when those two policies conflict. If the package is not damaged and is still vacuum sealed when you receive it, then the indicators should start turning pink within a day or two, if it hasn’t already.

Overall, the best way to confirm your oxygen absorbers are fresh is to feel them. They will feel like fine powder is inside as opposed to hard and crunchy when exposed. But if you are buying from a reputable company like PackFreshUSA, the freshness confirmation is just for your peace of mind about an invisible process. Exposed absorbers in a sealed package that has come directly from a manufacturer is not an actual problem. Millions of these have been used every day in all sorts of food products in the US since 1992. Home use is very new and a tiny percentage of the oxygen absorber market, but growing fast due to their ease of use, cheap price, and superiority over vacuum sealing or gas flushing.