Surface attachment of active antimicrobial coatings onto conventional plastic-based laminates and performance assessment of these materials on the storage life of vacuum packaged beef sub-primals

• Published in: Food microbiology Vol. 62; pp. 196 - 201
• Main Authors: Clarke, David, Tyuftin, Andrey A., Cruz-Romero, Malco C., Bolton, Declan, Fanning, Seamus, Pankaj, Shashi K., Bueno-Ferrer, Carmen, Cullen, Patrick J., Kerry, Joe P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Antimicrobial active packaging; Antimicrobials; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Caprylates - analysis; Caprylates - chemistry; Cattle; Colony Count, Microbial; Edible coatings; Food Microbiology; Food packaging; Food Packaging - methods; Food Preservation; Food Storage - methods; Gelatin - analysis; Gelatin - chemistry; Gelatin films; Plasma Gases - chemistry; Plasma treatment; Plastics; Red Meat - microbiology; Vacuum; Antimicrobial active packaging; Food packaging; Gelatin films; Plasma treatment; Edible coatings; Antimicrobials
• ISSN: 0740-0020; 1095-9998
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2016.10.022

Two antimicrobial coatings, namely Sodium octanoate and Auranta FV (a commercial antimicrobial composed of bioflavonoids, citric, malic, lactic, and caprylic acids) were used. These two antimicrobials were surface coated onto the inner polyethylene layer of cold plasma treated polyamide films using beef gelatin as a carrier and coating polymer. This packaging material was then used to vacuum pack beef sub-primal cuts and stored at 4 °C. A control was prepared using the non-coated commercial laminate and the same vacuum packaged sub-primal beef cuts. During storage, microbial and quality assessments were carried out. Sodium octanoate treated packages significantly (p < 0.05) reduced microbial counts for all bacteria tested with an increase of 7 and 14 days, respectively compared to control samples. No significant effect on pH was observed with any treatment. The results suggested that these food grade antimicrobials have the potential to be used in antimicrobial active packaging applications for beef products. •Beef gelatin was successfully coated on plasma treated polyethylene surface.•Auranta FV and Sodium octanoate coated films prolonged the shelf life of beef cuts.•AFV and SO potentially can be used in antimicrobial active packaging.