Food Packaging and Shelf Life最新文献

Edible active packaging is an innovative solution that extends the shelf life of products, protect it from contamination, and prevent oxidation, without contributing to additional packaging waste. Here this study explores the potential of utilizing cascara extract, a coffee by-product rich in polyphenols and polysaccharides, as a sustainable material for preserving roasted hazelnuts. Gelatin and glycerol are investigated as additives to enhance film properties. Optimal formulations were exhibited promising barrier performance, antioxidant activity and low surface energy. Based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the formulation consisted of 5.1 % w/v gelatin as the primary film-forming agent, 89.2 % w/v cascara extract as an active component, 5.7 % w/v glycerol as a plasticizer, showed the highest oxygen barrier property. Accelerated shelf-life testing (ASLT) at 35 and 45 °C indicated selected cascara coating potentially doubling hazelnut shelf life. The cascara edible coating had a brown film appearance which can be acceptable for dark coloured food products in future application. Despite deviations in color, cascara offers potential for sustainable packaging, opening avenues for innovative solutions.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) threatens human health worldwide, highlighting the critical need for antiviral materials. In this study, copper and zinc nanoparticles (NPs) as inorganic antiviral materials and a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) were selected to construct a hybrid inorganic-organic composite film (CuO/ZnO NPs-CNF) against MS2 and murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) (surrogates for HuNoV) viruses. Selected NPs concentrations (50 µM of CuO NPs and 5 mM of ZnO NPs) showed non-toxicity (89.88 % of cell viability) through the MTT assay. Upon the development and characterization of the CuO/ZnO NPs-CNF film, high compatibility between CuO/ZnO NPs and CNF was identified, along with consistent thickness, low moisture content, and water solubility. A synergistic antiviral effect was exhibited in vitro and on the film against MS2 and MNV-1 in the mentioned co-treated inorganic matrix within 1 h. The antiviral stability of the film was also maintained at various temperatures (−18 °C, 5 °C, and 25 °C) and humidities (20–30 %, 50–60 %, and 70–80 %). When a synergistic antiviral effect was exhibited on the CuO/ZnO NPs-CNF film against both MS2 and MNV-1, mechanisms analysis by SDS-PAGE and RT-qPCR revealed that there were damages to both capsid protein and RdRP. The application of CuO/ZnO NPs-CNF film on clams resulted in a significant decrease in the survival rate of MS2 by up to 65.67 % and MNV-1 by up to 78.62 % when treated at low temperatures compared to the CNF film. Taken together, these results suggest that the CuO/ZnO NPs-CNF film could be used as potential anti-HuNoV agent in the food industry.

In France, collective catering must adopt compostable alternatives for warming/serving trays to reduce the use of plastic materials by 2025. Cellulose trays laminated with biobased polymers such as polylactic acid are gaining popularity. To guarantee safety, the presence and the migration of substances should be tested according to established protocols. PLA, PCL, PBAT, PBS, PEG, were identified in the liners of the trays collected from the market. Testing ensured the compliance with global migration limit. After undergoing the real-condition processing, the trays experienced minor physical degradation and fractures, compromising integrity. Heating to higher temperatures (130 °C) led to some modifications of the polymer composition, and several substances linked to the safety of the trays were detected as potential migrants like plasticizers and additives (styrene and a volatile fluorinated compound) in some of the samples. Migration of monomers and oligomers from the liner should further be studied to guarantee food safety.

The efficacy of methyl anthranilate (MA) vapour in extending the postharvest shelf-life of fresh strawberries has been studied. For that, fruit inoculated with Botrytis cinerea was packaged in vented polypropylene (PP) clamshells and exposed to MA vapour released from a cellulose paper disc impregnated with the liquid compound and placed in the lid of the package. Fruit was stored for 12 days at 4 °C, and fungal growth of berries were monitored throughout storage. The level of fungal infection was significantly reduced in fruit treated with MA vapour. Moreover, packaged fruit with MA vapour that had not been previously inoculated maintained certain quality parameters such as colour and firmness better than control samples. Overall, MA vapour extended the shelf-life of strawberries from 6 to 9 days without causing phytotoxic effects on fruit tissue. MA was absorbed by the fruit but did not surpass the “no observed adverse effect level” (NOAEL). The maximum value of MA in fruit was reached at the end of the storage with a value of 34 µg g⁻¹. Thus, MA presents potential as an antimicrobial volatile for the preservation of packaged strawberries.

Environmentally-friendly active packaging films provide a novel approach for food preservation, addressing the major challenge of plastic pollution. In this study, we developed a zein-based flexible film incorporating TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TNTAs). We conducted a comprehensive investigation into the microstructure, spectroscopic properties, water resistance, mechanical strength, and antimicrobial activity of the film. The incorporation of TNTAs with varying tube lengths (ranging from 700 nm to 5.2 µm) resulted in their uniform dispersion within the zein matrix and significantly enhanced the mechanical robustness and water resistance of the composite films. XRD, FT-IR, and XPS analyses revealed intermolecular hydrogen bonding between zein matrix and TNTAs. Moreover, under low-power density (1600 mW/cm²) UV irradiation, Zein/TNTAs films exhibited remarkable antimicrobial efficacy against E.coli. These findings highlight the potential application of Zein/TNTAs composite films in active food packaging.

There is a lack of information about the application of metal polyphenol networks (MPN) in the food industry nowadays. Herein, the MPN was prepared by procyanidin (PC) and zinc ion (Zn²⁺), and introduced into tilapia gelatin films. The MPN-modified films showed broader thickness, higher UV-Vis light barrier property, and lower water sensitivity and water vapor property than PC-modified films. When the molar ratio of Zn²⁺ to PC being 3:8, the incorporation of MPN induced the highest tensile strength of films reaching 82.47 MPa, good activity against oxidation, and improved inhibition activity to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The MPN-modified gelatin films could suppress the bacteria growth, and attenuate the generation of total volatile basic nitrogen and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, causing the shelf life of pork extended by five and three days compared with the control and PC-modified films, respectively. The results suggested that MPN provided great potential in the application of food packaging.

The modified atmosphere and moisture packaging membranes for preserving Vitis vinifera L. (V. vinifera) were developed by blending triethylamine-grafted quaternized polyether ether ketone (QPEEK) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) using thermally induced phase separation. With the addition of QPEEK, the blend membranes exhibited increased hydrophilicity, gas transmission rate, and gas permeability coefficient. For the 5 % QPEEK/PVDF membrane, the water vapor transmission rate is 48.4 g/(m²·24 h), the water contact angle is 82.2°, and the CO₂/O₂ separation coefficient is 2.06. Compared to other groups, this membrane exhibits better tensile, swelling, and relaxation properties. These properties facilitate achieving dynamic air equilibrium within 3 days, maintaining a suitable atmosphere inside the package (3.4–4.1 % CO₂ and 16.1–18.1 % O₂), and timely removing moisture to prevent water vapor condensation, thus extending the shelf life of grapes to more than 25 days. Grapes packaged in 5 % QPEEK/PVDF membrane box maintained 99.3 % mass, 85.1 % firmness, and 72.2 % total phenol content, and exhibited minimal changes in soluble solids, relative electrical conductivity, and water state and distribution compared to fresh grapes. These experimental results suggest significant potential for the use of QPEEK/PVDF membranes in fruit and vegetable packaging.

Biodegradable materials may help solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by conventional synthetic food packaging. Here, various amounts of colloidal silicon dioxide [CSD, 5, 10, and 15 wt% based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)] and 1 % S_CAN, a 1:1 (v:v) combination of cinnamaldehyde and nonanal, were added to fabricate PVA-based films. Microstructure analyses using atomic force and scanning electron microscopes revealed that the films had uniform CSD dispersion, and the surface roughness rose along with the CSD concentration. The addition of S_CAN prevented UV light transmission. In addition, the introduction of CSD enhanced the water-resistance abilities and tensile strengths of the composite films. The PVA/S_CAN films exerted remarkable antifungal activities against Aspergillus flavus owing to a synergistic effect between cinnamaldehyde and nonanal. Furthermore, the PVA/S_CAN/CSD film, contrasted with the PVA film containing S_CAN alone, attenuated the S_CAN loss during storage and also continually released S_CAN from the film. In peanut preservation, the PVA/S_CAN/CSD composite film was superior to the single-element films in antifungal activity, showing decreases of 76.66 % and 85.33 % in the production of conidia and aflatoxin B1, respectively. In conclusion, the PVA/S_CAN/CSD composite film with high UV barrier, water-resistance ability, excellent mechanical properties and antifungal activity possesses a promising application potential in food packaging.

Naematelia aurantialba, known for its health benefits but perishable due to high water content, has a limited market life. This study explored extending its shelf life using ultraviolet C radiation within modified atmosphere packaging. Ultraviolet C, typically used for sterilizing produce, has untapped potential for preserving Naematelia aurantialba. Samples underwent ultraviolet C with various intensities, then were stored at 2 ± 1 °C in packaging bags with 4081 mL/m²·d·atm oxygen transmission rate, with quality checks every seven days until day 42. Samples treated with 0.19 kJ/m² ultraviolet C radiation within the MAP system significantly slowed color and texture changes in N. aurantialba, maintaining cell integrity. This treatment also reduced the loss of aroma substances and significantly increased the total phenolic and flavonoid content in the N. aurantialba. Simultaneously, these samples demonstrated tester preference, highlighting the treatment's effectiveness in enhancing freshness and marketability.

Food contact materials (FCMs) i.e. materials that food is packaged or handled in, must be safe for their intended use. European FCM legislation uses a risk-based approach, with a cornerstone of FCM’s safety evaluation being measurement of migration of substances from FCMs to food simulants. The standard methods mainly developed for plastic FCMs are not always suitable for less inert and moisture sensitive materials such as paper and board. However, these are becoming increasingly common as FCMs e.g. to replace single-use plastics. In addition, there is a drive to further use recycled materials. To support this development, new methods for assessing the safety of these materials are needed. In the present feasibility study, a hydrogel crosslinked through freeze-thawing of poly(vinyl alcohol) was evaluated as a food simulant for moist foods. The migration of surrogate compounds from a spiked paperboard to the hydrogel was determined and compared to the migration to a real moist food (a slice of apple), the commonly used modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO) and a water extract. Migration of polar surrogates to the hydrogel correlated well with the migration to the apple slice. However, our results indicate that the hydrogel is less suitable as simulant for non-polar surrogates. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of this hydrogel-based simulant for improving risk assessment of less inert FCMs.