Explain why food products containing fats and oils (like potato chips) are packaged in nitrogen.

Explanation

The plastic bags containing oil and fat containig food items (such as potato chips) are flushed with an unreactive gas nitrogen so as to prevent them from getting oxidised and turn rancid. This is because in the presence of oxygen of air , the fats and oils present in food item get oxidised forming products having unpleasant smell and taste which turn the foods rancid (making them unfit for eating). When air containing oxygen is replaced by unreactive nitrogen gas, the packed food items do not get spoiled. They remain fresh for a much longer time.