A food product packaging apparatus for a conveyor environment, and having a vacuum chamber operatively associated with the conveyor, which vacuum chamber is selectively moved into and out of a position in sealing engagement relative to the conveyor. A manifold, a vacuum source and conduit structure are included, the conduit structure connecting the manifold structure to the vacuum source and the vacuum chamber so that the vacuum source is selectively operable to draw a vacuum in the vacuum chamber through the manifold structure. A shuttle includes frame structure and drive structure for the frame structure so that the frame structure is movable in the direction of conveyor movement and, after a predetermined increment of movement, the frame structure shuttles opposite the direction of conveyor movement to a position to repeat movement in the direction of conveyor movement for a subsequent movement for the predetermined increment. The manifold structure is connected to, and movable with, the shuttle frame structure.