Antimicrobial edible films inhibit pathogens in meat
Antimicrobial agents incorporated into edible films applied to foods to seal in flavor, freshness and color can improve the microbiological safety of meats, according to researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

This image shows ring baloney wrapped in edible, antimicrobial fllm.
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
Using films made of pullulan -- an edible, mostly tasteless, transparent polymer produced by the fungus Aureobasidium pulluns -- researchers evaluated the effectiveness of films containing essential oils derived from rosemary, oregano and nanoparticles against foodborne pathogens associated with meat and poultry.
The results demonstrate that the bacterial pathogens were inhibited significantly by the use of the antimicrobial films, said Catherine Cutter, professor of food science. She hopes that the research will lead to the application of edible, antimicrobial films to meat and poultry, either before packaging or, more likely, as part of the packaging process.
In the study, which was published online in the April issue of the Journal of Food Science, researchers determined survivability of bacterial pathogens after treatment with 2 percent oregano essential oil, 2 percent rosemary essential oil, zinc oxide nanoparticles or silver nanoparticles.
The compounds then were incorporated into edible films made from pullulan, and the researchers determined the antimicrobial activity of these films against bacterial pathogens inoculated onto petri dishes.
Finally, the researchers experimentally inoculated fresh and ready-to-eat meat and poultry products with bacterial pathogens, treated them with the pullulan films containing the essential oils and nanoparticles, vacuum packaged, and then evaluated for bacterial growth following refrigerated storage for up to three weeks.
"The results from this study demonstrated that edible films made from pullulan and incorporated with essential oils or nanoparticles have the potential to improve the safety of refrigerated, fresh or further-processed meat and poultry products," said Cutter. "The research shows that we can apply these food-grade films and have them do double duty -- releasing antimicrobials and imparting characteristics to protect and improve food we eat."
Working in Cutter's laboratory in the Department of Food Science, Mohamed Morsy, a doctoral student at Benha University in Egypt, conducted the research. Morsy was at Penn State as a Borlaug Fellow through a grant provided by the USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service.
The edible films are a novel but effective way to deliver antimicrobial agents to meats, Cutter explained, because the bacteria-killing action is longer lasting. Liquid applications run off the surface, are not absorbed and are less effective. The pullulan films adhere to the meat, allowing the incorporated antimicrobials to slowly dissolve, providing immediate and sustained kill of bacteria. In addition, the microorganisms do not have the opportunity to regrow.
Cutter conceded that pullulan films are not as oxygen-impermeable as plastic packaging now used to package meats, so the edible films are not likely to replace that material.
"The meat industry likes the properties of the polyethylene vacuum packaging materials that they are using now," she said. "However, the one thing I really want to be able to do in the next few years is to figure out a way to co-extrude antimicrobial, edible films with the polyethylene so we have the true oxygen barrier properties of the plastic with the antimicrobial properties of the edible film."
Knowing that edible films can release antimicrobials slowly over time and keep bacteria in meat at bay, further research will be aimed at creating what Cutter referred to as "active packaging" -- polyethylene film with antimicrobial properties.
"Right now, we have two different packaging materials that are not necessarily compatible, leading to a two-step process. I keep thinking there's a way to extrude edible, antimicrobial film in one layer with polyethylene, creating all-in-one packaging.
"The chemistry of binding the two together is the challenge, but we need to find a way to do it because marrying the two materials together in packaging would make foods -- especially meat and poultry -- safer to eat."
Most read news
Organizations
Other news from the department science
These products might interest you

NANOPHOX CS by Sympatec
Particle size analysis in the nano range: Analyzing high concentrations with ease
Reliable results without time-consuming sample preparation

Eclipse by Wyatt Technology
FFF-MALS system for separation and characterization of macromolecules and nanoparticles
The latest and most innovative FFF system designed for highest usability, robustness and data quality

DynaPro Plate Reader III by Wyatt Technology
Screening of biopharmaceuticals and proteins with high-throughput dynamic light scattering (DLS)
Efficiently characterize your sample quality and stability from lead discovery to quality control

Get the chemical industry in your inbox
By submitting this form you agree that LUMITOS AG will send you the newsletter(s) selected above by email. Your data will not be passed on to third parties. Your data will be stored and processed in accordance with our data protection regulations. LUMITOS may contact you by email for the purpose of advertising or market and opinion surveys. You can revoke your consent at any time without giving reasons to LUMITOS AG, Ernst-Augustin-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany or by e-mail at revoke@lumitos.com with effect for the future. In addition, each email contains a link to unsubscribe from the corresponding newsletter.
Most read news
More news from our other portals
Last viewed contents
Unilever to acquire Blueair
Egg_white

Luminous bacterial proteins detect chemicals in water
High-Precision Plastic Consumables

Mass of the deuteron corrected - Sophisticated measurement technology for maximum precision
Turbo-Packed RNA - Turbo Reagent Allows Precise Synthesis of tRNA Nucleosides

AT - Automation Technology GmbH - Bad Oldesloe, Germany
Air Liquide will invest another €25 million in a new Air Separation Unit in China

Energy Portrait: Capturing a Molecule's Moment of Excitement

TBFA GMBH E. Lampe & TBAG Schweiz - Bad Birnbach, Germany

Gamma radiation helps to understand the mesocrystal formation
