Chapter 9 - Biobased edible food coatings for food applications

Abstract

Packaging is one of the most consumer-driven sectors. Greater demand for better sustainable functional packaging and the need to reduce postharvest loss can be addressed using biobased edible coatings and films, which are produced from nontoxic biopolymers, biocomposites, and other renewable sources. They protect the packaged or coated product from external physical, chemical, and biological deterioration by various barrier functions. Edible biobased coatings have numerous applications in the production of minimally processed foods, with better enhanced quality and shelf life of fruits, vegetables, meat, bakery, and other food products. Apart from these applications, there is an increasing trend to incorporate antioxidants, vitamins, antimicrobial agents, nutraceuticals, and active compounds into edible coatings, providing a better platform to act as carriers of active substances, enable targeted release, and also function as quality and safety enhancers. In this chapter, different sources, methods of formation of biobased edible coatings, and the chemistry behind the properties of barrier and quality enhancement functions, along with a listing of various applications of edible coatings used in the food industry are discussed. Furthermore, characterization, consumer acceptance, commercial feasibility, and recently available products have been discussed, along with emphasizing the need to validate edible coatings. Better packaging results can be obtained when these key factors are taken into consideration.