Bio-Packaging Material Impact on Blueberries Quality Attributes under Transport and Marketing Conditions.

María Julieta Bof,Franco Emanuel Laurent,María Alejandra García,Facundo Massolo,Delia Elisa Locaso,Florencia Versino

doi:10.3390/polym13040481

Abstract

Blueberries are highly appreciated for their high antioxidant content but are also particularly susceptible to fungal deterioration. In this work, corn starch and chitosan, byproducts of the fishing industry, as well as active compounds obtained from citrus processing waste were used to obtain active biodegradable film packaging. Blueberries were packed in corn starch–chitosan (CS:CH) films and in active films containing lemon essential oil (LEO) or grapefruit seed extract (GSE). The effects of film packaging on the quality parameters of berries and the fungal incidence of disease during storage were studied and compared to benchmark materials. A conservation assay simulating transport and commercialization conditions was conducted. Blueberries packed in CS:CH films showed antioxidant capacity values closer to those packed in commercial PET containers (Clamshells), preserving 84.8% of the initial antioxidants content. Fruit packed in LEO films exhibited the greatest weight loss and rot incidence, and poor surface color. CS:CH and GSE films controlled the fruit respiration rate and weight loss, therefore they are materials with adequate barrier properties for blueberries conservation. Bags formulated with GSE showed adequate barrier properties to maintain fruit quality attributes without the incidence of rottenness, being an interesting option for blueberries exportation.

Highlights

According to the United Nations (UN) on average 13.8% of the food produced worldwide is lost after harvest and during transportation, storage, and processing [1]
SEM analysis evidenced that lemon essential oil (LEO) presented marked defects because of the lack of polymer miscibility, which introduced a great number of discontinuities in the matrix
The present study demonstrated that the biodegradable films based on corn starch and chitosan and the active film containing grapefruit seed extract (GSE) reduced the post-harvest weight loss of packed blueberries during their refrigerated storage in comparison to CL PET containers

Summary

Introduction

According to the United Nations (UN) on average 13.8% of the food produced worldwide is lost after harvest and during transportation, storage, and processing [1]. Besides aiming to a good balance between food demand and production, adequate packaging systems are necessary to enhance food security and reduce food waste. Packaging materials must be sufficiently resistant to protect and preserve the product from production through transportation and storage until consumption but are discarded usually with little to no reuse [2]. Because of their low cost and density plastic materials are most frequently used for packaging applications. 42% of the global plastic production is consumed by the packaging sector, being generally disposable items that contribute to the generation of large volumes of waste [3]. Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastic materials have been extensively studied as an alternative to reduce waste generation and plastic pollution

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Conclusion