a dairy product a fruit product a vegetable product and a fish product the modified atmosphere may be either oxygen rich or have a reduced oxygen content compared to ambient air also the modified atmospheres of the present invention also typically operate to reduce both aerobic and anaerobic pathogens in the food stored under the modified atmosphere the modified atmosphere for the meat product typically contains about 70 by volume oxygen about 20 by volume carbon dioxide and about 10 by volume nitrogen the modified atmosphere for the fish product typically contains about 40 by volume carbon dioxide and about 60 by volume nitrogen the modified atmosphere for fruits or vegetables typically contains from about 3 to about 10 by volume oxygen from about 3 to about 10 by volume carbon dioxide and from about 80 to about 94 by volume nitrogen the modified atmosphere for dairy products typically contains from about 10 to about 30 by volume carbon dioxide and from about 70 to about 90 by volume nitrogen applicants also believe that a modified atmosphere can be used for medications for example medications that might be prone to oxidation might have their shelf life improved by being stored in a container with a modified atmosphere with reduced oxygen content to prevent or retard oxidation the modified atmosphere is typically over the medication a method of producing a modified atmosphere within a rigid container typically includes the steps shown in fig1 and described below first a food to be stored under a modified atmosphere is placed within the.