Shirred tubular food casings having a barrier coating

Claim 1

In the method of producing a shirred and compressed tubular cellulosic food casing having a continuous moisture and gas barrier coating adhered to the surface thereof the steps comprising; (a) applying to a surface of a tubular cellulosic food casing a coating composition suitable to provide a continuous moisture and gas barrier coating having an extensibility measured at 32° F. of at least about 4% on the surface of said casing; (b) heat treating the coated casing to cause the coating to adhere directly to and form a continuous barrier coating on said casing, whereby the moisture content of said casing is reduced; (c) moisturizing the barrier coated tubular casing to a moisture content of at least about 10% by weight; (d) advancing said moisturized tubular food casing having a continuous barrier coating adhered to the surface thereof in an inflated state about a mandrel to and through a shirring means where said inflated casing is shirred; and then (e) advancing said shirred casing from the shirring means to compressing means where said shirred casing is compressed.