Effects of in-package atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma treatment on the antimicrobial efficacy of whey protein isolate-based edible films that incorporate malic acid against Salmonella in chicken breast processed meat

Abstract

Effects of in-package atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (CP) treatment on the antimicrobial efficacy of malic acid-incorporated whey protein isolate (MA–WPI) coating and MA diffusion in MA–WPI-coated skinless chicken breast processed meat (CBPM) were evaluated. MA–WPI coating followed by CP treatment (MA–WPI + CP) inactivated Salmonella (5.6 log CFU/g) in CBPM by 1.8 log CFU/g. CP treatment increased Salmonella reduction rates in MA–WPI-coated samples during storage at 4 and 10 °C and the diffusion coefficients of MA in the coating, which was confirmed by comparing results of MA–WPI + CP-treated and MA–WPI-coated samples. CP treatment facilitates MA diffusion in the coating, thereby increasing the Salmonella inhibition efficacy of the coating. MA–WPI + CP treatment did not influence the color and lipid oxidation of CBPM during storage at 4 °C and the water vapor permeability, elongation, and elastic modulus of MA–WPI films. Industrial relevanceThrough the technological development of in-package cold plasma treatment for decontamination of food in the industrial production line, the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat foods coated with antimicrobials can be effectively increased by exposing the coated foods to cold plasma to accelerate the diffusion of the antimicrobials in the coating to the site of microbial contamination at the surface. The effect of cold plasma treatment on the antimicrobial efficacy of the antimicrobial coating is useful, especially during the initial stages when the coating is expected to exhibit highly efficacious antimicrobial function.