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Seaweed polysaccharides show tremendous research and application value because of their significant and unique biological activities. However, reports on seaweed polysaccharides usually focus on in-depth studies of a specific biological activity, which severely limits their further development. Herein, three seaweed polysaccharides were isolated from Undaria pinnatifida (UPPS), Sargassum pallidum (SPPS), and Ulva lactuca (ULPS), respectively. The physicochemical properties, structure, rheological properties, antioxidant activities, antibacterial activities, and anti-glycation activities of UPPS, ULPS, and SPPS were comprehensively studied. It was first demonstrated that SPPS and UPPS had triple prominent biological activities. SPPS exhibited the best biological activities in antioxidation (IC 50 in the ABTS test: 0.4616 ± 0.0134 mg/mL), antibacterial effect, and anti-glycation activity (inhibitory rate: 84.74 ± 0.07 %). Additionally, UPPS films (UPPSF) demonstrated superior ultraviolet shielding performance, lower water vapor permeability (1.78 ± 0.01 g/m·s·Pa × 10 -11 ), higher hydrophobicity (water contact angle: 96.91 ± 2.52°), and higher antioxidant activity compared to ULPS films (ULPSF). UPPSF and ULPSF effectively prolonged the shelf life of strawberries to six days, and UPPSF showed better preservation properties. This work provides novel theoretical insights into the use of polysaccharides as medicinal nutraceuticals, bioactive agents, and food packaging films., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Recently, fiber-based and functional paper food packaging has garnered significant attention for its versatility, excellent performance, and potential to provide sustainable solutions to the food packaging industry. Fiber-based food packaging is characterized by its large surface area, adjustable porosity and customizability, while functional paper-based food packaging typically exhibits good mechanical strength and barrier properties. This review summarizes the latest research progress on food packaging based on fibers and functional paper. Firstly, the raw materials used for preparing fiber and functional paper, along with their physical and chemical properties and roles in food packaging, were discussed. Subsequently, the latest advancements in the application of fiber and paper materials in food packaging were introduced. This paper also discusses future research directions and potential areas for improvement in fiber and functional paper food packaging to further enhance their effectiveness in ensuring food safety, quality, and sustainability., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

ZnAl 2 O 4 and CuAl 2 O 4 spinel nanoparticles were prepared by a modified Pechini method and used with the natural chitosan (CS) and shellac (SH) polymers to form novel composite membranes as promising food packaging materials. The selection of ZnAl 2 O 4 and CuAl 2 O 4  spinel nanoparticles was based on their antibacterial characteristics, availability, and economy. Using a straightforward and adaptable solution mixing and casting method, the bio-composites were created. The mechanical, physical, antibacterial, homogeneity and air permeability properties of composite films were investigated. The film structure was evaluated in terms of component interactions using FTIR spectra. The addition of 10% SH increased the tensile strength, percentage strain at maximum load, Young's modulus, and burst strength by 114-101%, 3.6-8.4, 103-119, and 179-153% for low and middle M.wt./CS respectively. Chitosan/shellac-CuAl 2 O 4  composite has superior properties compared to ZnAl 2 O 4  composite. In general, 0.05% spinel provides a composite having better qualities than that of 0.1 additions. Middle M.wt. chitosan provides a composite with superior properties compared to that of low M.wt. The incorporation of ZnAl 2 O 4 or CuAl 2 O 4 enhanced the thermal stability of the SH/CS composite. ZnAl 2 O 4 provides superior thermal stability than CuAl 2 O 4 . When shellac/CS film structure is treated with the previously indicated ZnAl 2 O 4 or CuAl 2 O 4 formulation, the % swelling decreases along with an increasing in the gel fraction. The antimicrobial assessment using inhibition zone diameter and shake flask methods showed that a composite of 1:9 shellac/chitosan/0.05% of CuAl 2 O 4 exerted the highest Gram-positive antibacterial activity against B. mycoides (21 mm), and C. albicans (22 mm). So, these enhancements make chitosan/shellac/ZnAl 2 O 4 or CuAl 2 O 4  composite films a good alternative to producing food packaging materials., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Food safety and wastage caused by fruit deterioration is a serious global problem. Effective packaging systems for extending the freshness period of fruit play a key role in food safety. In this work, we constructed an eco-friendly and flexible polysaccharide-based packaging film based on hydroxypropyl guar (HPG), cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), deep eutectic solvents (DES) and anthocyanin (Anth). DES could endow polysaccharide films with multiple hydrogen bond numbers and good stability. Hydroxypropyl guar/cellulose nanocrystals/anthocyanin with 0.2 g deep eutectic solvents (HCA-DES 0.2 ) had good tensile properties, oxygen barrier properties (3.01 cm 3 /m 2 ·day·Pa), water resistance (WCA 111.97°), antibacterial (CFU ˂ 10 3 ), and transparency (55.4 %). The preservation tests of grape and blueberry showed that the shelf life of these two fruits was 12-20 days, and the polysaccharide film had great application potential in fruit preservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Development of green packaging materials is essential to replace traditional plastics in fresh agricultural products preservation. Herein, a coated paper was designed by applying chitosan-based composite coating on paper substrate through a facile automatic coating method. The hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) was obtained by direct quaternization via the introduction of hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride into the amino group of chitosan, then mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to prepare the HACC/PVA coating. Accordingly, the key performance of coated paper were improved ascribed to the synergy effect of HACC/PVA coating and paper substrate. In particular, the minimum oxygen permeability of the coated paper could reach to 0.87 × 10 -13  cm 3 ·cm/cm 2 ·s·Pa, and the optimum water vapor permeability and tensile strength of HACC/PVA coated paper was 0.75 × 10 -12  g·cm/cm 2 ·s·Pa and 6.88 kN/m, respectively. The coated paper used as packaging material not only reduced weight loss ratio of strawberry and greengrocery, but also exhibited lower chromatic aberration and better sensory evaluation, indicating a favorable effect on fruit and vegetable storage. Taken together, the designed eco-friendly coated paper has shown tremendous potential for green and biodegradable packaging material in agricultural products preservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This study developed active packaging films of Polylactic acid incorporated with the plant-based essential oils of Trachyspermum ammi, T. ammi and Vanilla to package waffles, where the antimicrobial property was provided by T. ammi and its odor was masked by vanilla essential oil. Compared to conventional solvent-cast films of smaller sizes requiring a huge amount of solvents, bigger-size PLA-oil films with lower solvent demand were prepared by tape casting technique with 10, 30, and 50 wt% essential oil blends. Films were studied for their morphological, chemical, mechanical, barrier, and antimicrobial properties. The presence and time-bound release of volatile oils from the films was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy, with a continuous decrease of oils from the films till day 30. The plasticizing effect of oils in films was evidenced by decreased tensile strength and crystallinity. In contrast, an increase in elongation at break and water vapor permeability of oil films were also measured. Finally, when packed in PLA films containing 50 wt% blend of both oils, waffles shelf-life extended up to 30 days compared to 2 days for the neat PLA film, where Vanilla was found effective in masking the unpleasant odor of T.ammi as confirmed by sensory analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study was conducted to investigate the morphological, thermal, mechanical, FTIR, physicochemical (thickness, humidity, solubility in water and water vapor permeability) and antimicrobial properties of polylactic acid film (PLA) containing hybrid graphene oxide‑zinc oxide (GO-ZnO: 1.5 % w/v) and Mentha longifolia essential oil (ML:1 % v/v) on chicken fillet kept in the refrigerator. The studied groups were microbially (total count of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, and lactic acid bacteria), chemically (pH, TVB-N) and sensory (color, odor, and taste) evaluated at 8-day interval (0, 2, 5 and 8). In the examination of the morphological characteristics, the PLA film had a smooth and uniform surface and the addition of ML essential oil created a discontinuous structure and the addition of GO-ZnO led to the production of a denser and more homogeneous film. The presence of GO-ZnO increased the thickness, decreased moisture content and solubility in water, and added ML essential oil increased moisture content and decreased solubility in water (p˂0.05). The results of the mechanical evaluation showed that the addition of ML essential oil and GO-ZnO reduced elongation at break and tensile strength (p˂0.05). The addition of ML essential oil increased the thermal resistance and the addition of GO-ZnO decreased the thermal resistance compared to the film containing ML essential oil. The antimicrobial effect of films containing ML essential oil was confirmed in this study (p˂0.05). The addition of GO-ZnO did not change the count of any of the microbial groups. TVB-N showed that groups containing ML essential oil had lower levels of volatile nitrogenous bases than the control group (p˂0.05). Sensory evaluation of the studied groups showed that chicken fillets packed with films containing ML essential oil had the highest score in terms of color, smell and taste. The results of the present study showed that PLA film containing GO-ZnO and ML essential oil can be used to increase the shelf life and maintain the sensory characteristics of chicken fillets, and it can be used as a suitable packaging to increase the shelf life of food products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Herein, the nanolignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF)-enabled ratiometric fluorescent bio-nanocomposite film is developed. Interestingly, the inclusion of LCNF in the cellulose-based film enhances the detecting performance of food freshness, such as high sensitivity to biogenic amines (BAs) (limit of detection (LOD) of up to 1.83 ppm) and ultrahigh discernible fluorescence color difference (ΔE = 113.11). The underlying mechanisms are the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), π - π interaction, and cation - π interaction between LCNF and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), as well as the increased hydrophobicity due to lignin, which increases the interactions of amines with FITC. Its color stability (up to 28 days) and mechanical property (49.4 Mpa) are simultaneously improved. Furthermore, a smartphone based detecting platform is developed to achieve access to food safety. This work presents a novel technology, which can have a great potential in the field of food packaging and safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest It is the original work of the authors. All the authors mutually agree that it should be submitted to Food Chemistry The manuscript has not been published or presented elsewhere in part or in entirety and is not under consideration by another journal. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. There is no research involving Human Participants and/or Animals., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Traditional packaging materials feed the growing global food protection. However, these packaging materials are not conducive to environment and have not the ability to kill bacteria. Herein, a green and simple strategy is reported for food packaging protection and long-term antibacterial using carboxymethylcellulose-based photothermal film (CMC@CuS NPs/PVA) that consists of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) immobilized copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). With satisfied oxygen transmittance (0.03 cc/m 2 /day) and water vapor transmittance (163.3 g/m 2 /day), the tensile strength, tear strength and burst strength reached to 3401.2 N/m, 845.7 mN and 363.6 kPa, respectively, which could lift 4.5 L of water. The composite film had excellent photothermal conversion efficiency and photothermal stability. Under the irradiation of near infrared (NIR), it can rapidly heated up to 197 °C within 25 s. The antibacterial analysis showed that the inhibition rate of composite film against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) could all reach >99 %. Furthermore, the synthesized CuS NPs was well immobilized and the residual rate of copper kept 98.7 % after 10 days. Noticeably, the composite film can preserve freshness of strawberries for up to 6 days. Therefore, the composite film has potential application for food antibacterial protection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The chemical safety of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) based food contact articles (FCAs) has aroused increasing toxicological concerns in recent years, but the chemical characterization and associated risk assessment still remain inadequate as it fails to elucidate the distribution pattern and discern the potential genotoxic and carcinogenic hazards of the identified substances. Herein, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 50 batches of PBAT-based FCAs of representative categories and 10 batches of PLA and PBAT pellets were characterized, by which 237 VOCs of 10 chemical categories were identified and exhibited characteristic distribution patterns in the chemical spaces derived from their molecular descriptors. Chemical hazards associated with the identified VOCs were discerned by a hazard-driven classification scheme integrating hazard-related knowledge from multiple publicly available sources, and 34 VOCs were found to bear genotoxic or carcinogenic hazards and to feature higher average molecular weight than the other VOCs. Finally, the Risk and hazard quotient (HQ) calculated as the metrics of risk suggested that all identified VOCs posed acceptable risks (Risk<10 -4 or HQ < 1), whereas oxolane, butyrolactone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, 2-butoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, and 1,2,3-trichloropropane posed non-negligible (Risk>10 -6) genotoxic or carcinogenic risk and thus should be of prioritized concern to promote the chemical safety of PBAT-based FCAs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The multifunctional active smart biomass film was prepared by incorporating chitosan-adsorbed laurate esterified starch curcumin Pickering emulsion into the starch film matrix, with nano-cellulose serving as reinforcing agents. The mechanical and functional properties of the film were studied, and the film was used to monitor the freshness of pork. The results demonstrated a relatively uniform distribution of curcumin and Pickering emulsion droplets within the film matrix. Furthermore, the thermal stability was minimally impacted by the introduction of curcumin Pickering emulsion, while the tensile strength and tensile strain of the film were increased, and both its hydrophobicity and antioxidant properties were improved. The free radical scavenging rate reached 56.01 %, with sustained high antioxidant capacity even after 8 days. Additionally, the presence of curcumin provided the film with pH indicating ability and delayed pork spoilage. Therefore, this work provides an attractive strategy for constructing green, active, and smart biomass packaging films for meat packaging applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Corn starch (CS) is a good alternative to synthetic polymers due to its sustainability; nevertheless, because of its weak tensile strength, the matrix requires another polymer. Therefore, 0.5 % (w/v) moringa gum (MG) was added. The purpose of this study was to assess how pine cone extract (PCE) affected the physiochemical and mechanical properties of corn starch and moringa gum (CS/MG) films and their use as UV-blocking composites. The findings suggest that the PCE improved the elongation at break from 3.27 % to 35.2 % while greatly reducing the tensile strength. The hydrogen bonding between CS/MG and PCE was visible in the FTIR spectra. The XRD graph indicated that the films were amorphous. In comparison to CS/MG films, PCE-incorporated edible films demonstrated significant UV-blocking ability indicating their potential as sustainable packaging material for light-sensitive food products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recently, diversifying the material, method, and application in food packaging has been massively developed to find more environment-friendly materials. However, the mechanical and barrier properties of the bioplastics are major hurdles to expansion in commercial realization. The compositional variation with the inclusion of different fillers could resolve the lacking performance of the bioplastic. This review summarizes the various reinforcement fillers and their effect on bioplastic development. In this review, we first discussed the status of bioplastics and their definition, advantages, and limitations regarding their performance in the food packaging application. Further, the overview of different fillers and development methods has been discussed thoroughly. The application of reinforced bioplastic for food packaging and its effect on food quality and shelf life are highlighted. The environmental issues, health concerns, and future perspectives of the reinforced bioplastic are also discussed at the end of the manuscript. Adding different fillers into the bioplastic improves physical, mechanical, barrier, and active properties, which render the required protective functions to replace conventional plastic for food packaging applications. Various fillers, such as natural and chemically synthesized, could be incorporated into the bioplastic, and their overall properties improve significantly for the food packaging application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Since the advent of space exploration missions, various space agencies have been working to improve the quality of food and nutrition for crew members. Food processing, preservation, and packaging have evolved with the advancement of technology. Most of the food available on earth can be consumed in space by changing its form. Shelf life and food acceptability can be enhanced by using suitable packaging materials. Here we review space food, which has been categorized into bite-size food, rehydratable food, thermostabilized food, intermediate moisture food, and irradiated food. Additionally, packaging materials and different packaging forms for space food are reviewed. Finally, the review highlights the challenges in space food packaging and food packaging trends of the Defence research and development organization (DRDO), the Japan aerospace exploration agency (JAXA), and the National aeronautics and space administration (NASA)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2023 The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Most technologies to produce multifunctional paper involved the defect of poor uniformity and stability. Herein, a high stability multi-functional cellulose-based paper was developed via a multiple chemical modification derived from waste bagasse. Firstly, the acetoacetyl groups was anchored on the surface of bagasse cellulose fibers by a heterogeneous transesterification. Then, paper was made based on these modified fibers. The fluorophore and gentamicin sulfate (Gen) were bonded in-situ to the paper through Hantzsch reaction and the form of enamine bond, respectively. The resulting paper exhibited excellent multifunctional properties, such as fluorescence property, antibacterial property and hydrophobic property. These properties are very stable to external environments. In addition, relatively mild surface modification has no obvious effect on fibers and shows similar whiteness and stiffness properties as that of the CAA paper. Thus, these novel functional papers held great potential for many fields such as food packaging, anti-counterfeiting, and other specialty papers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study explored the use of chitosan films functionalized with antioxidants extracted from Larix decidua Mill. bark for active packaging. The pristine chitosan and extract-incorporated chitosan films were evaluated for their structural, physico-mechanical, thermal, viscoelastic and antioxidant properties using advanced characterization techniques. The infrared spectroscopy revealed hydrogen bonding between the extract polyphenolic antioxidants and chitosan, whereas the surface microscopy studies indicated good compatibility between them. The addition of bark extract caused a significant increase in color parameters and solubility with reduction in swelling and elongation at break of the films. The thermal analysis indicated a drop in thermal stability of chitosan films modified with the extract. The dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed the extract-polymer interactions and the viscoelastic nature of the films. The incorporation of bark extract caused remarkable enhancement in the antioxidant activity of chitosan films. Overall, larch bark extract-functionalized chitosan films demonstrated promising potential for food packaging., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This research study explores the fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and corn starch (ST) with pineapple peel extract (PPE) as a natural antioxidant agent, which is an abundant by-product from the food processing industry via casting method. The effects of PPEs concentration (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) on the antioxidant capacity, optical, thermal, mechanical, barrier properties, and changes in PVOH-starch molecular structure of PVOH/ST films were investigated. The results revealed that with the increasing concertation of PPEs, prepared films' thickness and water vapor permeability slightly increased. Elongation at break of PVOH/ST films was also enhanced with PPEs concentration. All PPEs incorporated films exhibited enhanced thermal stability as the degradation occurred above 300 °C. The addition of PPE to PVOH/ST films remarkably increased the antioxidant properties. Finally, prepared PVOH/ST/PPE films demonstrated to be a capable material for developing active biodegradable packaging material due to its proven antioxidant activity and mechanical property, which can be helpful in the packaging of food products that gets spoiled due to oxidation reactions., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Packaging is as important as the product itself because it is a crucial marketing and communication tool for business. Oxidized nanocellulose (ONC), extracted from agriculture residues of bagasse raw material using ecofriendly ammonium persulfate hydrolysis method, is used as support/reducing agent for the generation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via photochemical procedure and reinforcing element in paper functionalization. The natural polymer, sodium alginate (SA) is exploited to enhance the binding of the ONC-AgNPs over cellulose fibers. The SA/ONC-AgNPs bio-nanocomposite is incorporated on paper matrix, which represents a more suitable choice respect to other substrates for its renewable, biocompatible, biodegradable, and cost-effective properties. Structural and antimicrobial evaluations show that the papers embedded with the SA/ONC-AgNPs possess good mechanical, thermal, barrier and antibacterial properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interest in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cushioning and antibacterial packaging are the requirements of the storage and transportation of fruits and vegetables, which are essential for reducing the irreversible quality loss during the process. Herein, the composite of carboxymethyl nanocellulose, glycerin, and acrylamide derivatives acted as the shell and chitosan/AgNPs were immobilized in the core by using coaxial 3D-printing technology. Thus, the 3D-printed cushioning-antibacterial dual-function packaging aerogel with a shell-core structure (CNGA/C-AgNPs) was obtained. The CNGA/C-AgNPs packaging aerogel had good cushioning and resilience performance, and the average compression resilience rate was more than 90%. Although AgNPs was slowly released, CNGA/C-AgNPs packaging aerogel had an obvious antibacterial effect on E. coli and S. aureus . Moreover, the CNGA/C-AgNPs packaging aerogel was biodegradable. Due to the customization capabilities of 3D-printing technology, the prepared packaging aerogel can be adapted to more application scenarios by accurately designing and regulating the microstructure of aerogels, which provides a new idea for the development of food intelligent packaging.

The annual amount of food waste or loss is about one-third of the total edible food globally produced for human consumption. Continuous and real-time monitoring by spoilage detectors can significantly reduce food waste. A novel paper-based pH-sensitive meat spoilage detector was developed. A mixture of soybean hulls (SBHs) (hydrothermally-treated in an acidic environment), bentonite, and bromocresol purple (BCP) was coated on paper to produce the detector. The resultant meat spoilage detector was evaluated as a real-time freshness and spoilage indicator of catfish fillets (Ictalurus punctatus). Freshness and spoilage of fish meat with varying weights and headspace were determined by tailoring the detector's pH. Elemental, structural, and functional analysis verified the formation of a packed SBH-bentonite matrix with enhanced gas adsorption capacity and effective BCP-immobilization. Binder nanofibrillation increased the overall visual color vibrancy and decreased the binder demand in the coating formulation. Headspace volume in the studied range (40 and 160 cm 3 ) did not affect the activation time of the detectors. However, increasing fish weight decreased the detectors' optimum activation time and pH. The findings of this study show that the developed detectors can be tailored for a wide range of sample and packaging sizes by simply adjusting the pH of the detector., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), a promising bio-based nanomaterial, has received much attention in the field of coating preparation due to its unique properties. Herein, NFC was prepared from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) via high-pressure homogenization process and deliberately employed as coating agent to enhance the properties of paper coatings and coated paper. The results demonstrated that the obtained paper coatings exhibited strong NFC concentration dependence on rheological behavior and displayed decreased water retention value with the increased NFC addition. Meanwhile, NFC addition was found to lead to the reduced Cobb value, improved air resistance, and enhanced tensile strength of coated paper. Under an optimized NFC addition of 0.30-0.40%, the properties of coated paper generally reached the optimum state. Moreover, SEM observation further confirmed that NFC addition imparted a relatively uniform surface structure to coated paper. Hence, NFC could be defined as an effective coating agent for developing high-performance coated paper for food packaging applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A sugarcane bagasse nanocellulose-based hydrogel was developed as a colourimetric freshness indicator for monitoring spoilage of chicken breast. Nanocellulose was prepared from sugarcane bagasse cellulose filaments by TEMPO-mediated oxidation, and then used to form a strong self-standing hydrogel matrix through Zn 2+ cross-linking. The hydrogel worked as a carrier for pH-responsive dyes (bromothymol blue/methyl red), which changed colour according to the freshness of the chicken sample. CO 2 levels were found to increase with the spoilage of chicken, relative to rising levels of micro-organisms. The indicator hydrogel optical colour changed from green to red on the third day, as the log CFU/g passed the limit of acceptability for human consumption and emission of complicated volatiles. This new design of colourimetric freshness indicator made with a nanocellulose hydrogel has a quick response to chicken spoilage and is expected to facilitate the utilisation of bagasse nanocellulose as a value-added material in intelligent packaging., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The current demand to cut back on the use of plastic materials has brought a major boost to the search for bio-based alternatives. Not only are plastic bags and primary food packaging under scrutiny here, but also those materials used as functional barriers to reduce, for example, the migration of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) from recycled paper and board packaging. Most of the barriers now in use are synthetic, often have only moderate barrier functionalities and in addition reduce the environmentally-friendly character of cellulose-based materials. Against this background, bio-based polymers have been evaluated in terms of their functional barrier properties. Chitosan was found to be among the best performers in these materials. In this study, the behavior of a lab-made chitosan acetate film was compared with conventionally produced polymer films. The two-sided migration experiment described recently was used to determine the barrier properties of the tested materials. This not only allowed to test the intrinsic migration of the films and the permeation through them, but also to simulate real packaging situations by using a recycled paper as donor for MOH. The migrated fractions were determined using gas-chromatography-based techniques. While the conventionally produced polymer films showed only moderate barrier function, excellent results were seen for the biopolymer. It reduced the migration from the recycled paper to not detectable, singling it out as a good alternative to conventional materials.

The effects of gelatin-carboxymethyl cellulose (Gel-CMC) based films containing chitin nano fiber (CHNF) and Trachyspermum ammi essential oil (Ajowan), on the shelf life extension of the raw beef at refrigerated temperature (4 °C) over a 12-day period were evaluated. Ajowan essential oil (AJEO) and CHNF were added to the films at 0.24, 0.64 and 1% v/v; and 2 and 4 wt%, respectively. The microbiological (total viable count, psychrotrophic count, Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, lactic acid bacteria, molds and yeasts), the chemical (pH, thiobarbituric acid and total volatile basic nitrogen), color and sensory properties of the packaged samples were evaluated periodically. Bacteria grew the most quickly in the control samples, followed by those wrapped with the Gel-CMC films; The lowest microbial counts, the least change in the chemical properties and the highest sensory scores after 12 days of storage were obtained for the samples wrapped in the films incorporated with 1% AJEO and 4 wt% CHNF., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome. We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us. We confirm that we have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication, with respect to intellectual property. In so doing we confirm that we have followed the regulations of our institutions concerning intellectual property., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This paper reports a green nanocomposite made by simply blending chitin nanofibers and bamboo cellulose nanofibers without chemically dissolving chitin and cellulose raw materials. Good biodegradability and biocompatibility of chitin in conjunction with good mechanical properties of cellulose are beneficial for developing green nanocomposite applicable for food packaging. The bamboo cellulose nanofiber (BACNF) is isolated by using a TEMPO-oxidation followed by an aqueous counter collision (ACC) method. Chitin nanofiber (CTNF) is isolated by using the ACC method. A simple blending is used to prepare the nanocomposite with different CTNF and BACNF concentration. Morphologies, mechanical properties, chemical interactions, thermal properties, water contact angles and biodegradability of the nanocomposite are investigated. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of the prepared nanocomposite increased up to 3 and 1.3 times, respectively as the BACNF concentration increase. The nanocomposite exhibites better thermal stability than the pure BACNF. Furthermore, the nanocomposite is fully biodegradable within a week. Good mechanical, thermal properties as well as biodegradability of the nanocomposite are promising for possible food packaging application., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An alternative transesterification with vinyl laurate (VL) was applied for chemical modification of hemicelluloses (HC) to prepare functional packaging films. Successful transesterification was confirmed by FT-IR and NMR. Semitransparent laurated HC (LHs) films were prepared by solvent casting method. SEM indicated the ordered honeycomb-patterned surface and the dense cross section of LHs films. The LHs films exhibited excellent hydrophobicity with water contact angle about 120° and the enhanced mechanical properties with tensile strength and elongation at break as 33.94 ± 3.09 MPa and 22.41 ± 2.87%, respectively. The water vapor permeability (WVP) and oxygen permeability (OP) values of LHs films ranged from 1.59 ± 0.07 to 2.23 ± 0.11 (10 -10 ·g/m·s·Pa) and 1.21 ± 0.04 to 4.24 ± 0.30 (cm 3 ·μm/m 2 ·d·kPa), respectively. Moreover, the films had acceptable antioxidant activity. In terms of these properties, the shelf life of green chilies could be largely extended to 15 days after packing with LHs films., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Lipid stability, physical properties and volatiles profile of vacuum-packaged fresh Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) loins were evaluated after hyperbaric storage at low temperature (HS/LT: 60 MPa/10 °C) and compared to atmospheric pressure and conventional refrigeration (AP/5 °C) after 5, 15 and 30 days, and at low temperature (AP/10 °C), after 5 and 15 days. No variations in drip loss and water holding capacity were observed for HS/LT samples. Compared to AP, HS/LT caused lower changes on muscle fibres, visible by scanning electron micrographs, and a decrease of resilience property (only after 30 days). In addition, myofibrillar fragmentation index did not change at HS/LT. Fatty acids were generally not affected by the different storage conditions, while the polyene index at HS/LT was similar to fresh samples during the 30 days of storage, confirmed by the lower lipid oxidation state of these samples, compared to AP. According to the volatile profile (SPME-GC/MS), HS samples showed to be more similar to the fresh ones, retaining fresh-like alcohols and aldehydes, generally not detected in AP samples after 15 days, the latter presenting spoilage-related compounds probably derived from microbial activity. According to these results, HS/LT represents a promising preservation methodology for fresh salmon loins (and fish in general), retaining better important physicochemical properties for 30 days, when compared to the conventional refrigeration., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Renewable and biodegradable packaging materials are desired for numerous applications. Pea starch (PS) and polylactic acid (PLA) are promising alternatives to petrochemical-based polymers except that their phase separation causes poor mechanical properties. To surmount this problem, PS/PLA films with a double-layer structure were designed. The bilayer films displayed better toughness, thermal stability and barrier capacity over those of PLA films. The incorporation of PLA on a PS layer increased water resistance and tensile strength over those of a monolayer PS film. Weak interfacial adhesion between the PS and PLA layers was revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The bilayer films reduced weight loss ratio of cherry tomatoes and extended the retention of organic acids and vitamin C. A bilayer architecture represents a promising route to develop packaging materials that display the advantageous properties of each material layer., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A facile and green route is introduced to fabricate antimicrobial composite films in this article from xylan (XL) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) with citric acid (CA) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400) as crosslinker and plasticizer, respectively. XL was obtained by precipitating wood hydrolysate (WH) produced during pulping process with ethanol. Antimicrobial activity was constructed by incorporating β-cyclodextrin/sodium benzoate (β-CD/NaBz) complex into the composite matrix. The interactions, including hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds, between the polymers were confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Morphology and crystallinity of composite films at different curing time were investigated by AFM and XRD, respectively. The composite film cured for 40 min exhibits tensile strength up to 62.3 MPa and oxygen permeability (OP) as low as 1.0 cm 3 ·μm m -2 ·d -1 ·kPa -1 . Finally, the antimicrobial test against Staphylococcus aureus reveals superior antimicrobial activity of composite films with complex. In conclusion, the XL/HEC antimicrobial film has great potential in the field of sustainable food packing materials., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cellulose-based packaging materials are currently the most commonly used food packaging materials due to their light weight, stability and affordable price. However, the use of recycled paper and board adds to the risk that undesirable substances migrate into the packed goods, since contaminants are not completely removed during the recycling process and can accumulate in the final product. The only available fast and practical solution that can be used to reduce the migration of these substances is the application of functional barriers in the packaging. The applied barriers are currently mostly synthetic, which either serve only a moderate barrier function and/or have the disadvantage that it is often more complex and expensive to recycle the resulting packaging material. The aim of this project is to evaluate different bio-based or biodegradable polymers with regards to their barrier properties. Due to the fact that the transport phenomena are mainly driven by (gas phase) migration, methods based on gas chromatography (GC), including GC coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and flame ionization detection (GC-FID), GC-FID coupled online with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC-GC-FID), and comprehensive GCxGC-MS were used to qualify and quantify the migrated substances. This use of a wide range of different methods and instruments yielded excellent results, allowing us to comprehensively characterize the biopolymers and their barrier function.

During fish spoilage, microbial metabolism leads to the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), characteristic off-odors and eventual consumer rejection. The aim of the present study was to contribute to the development of intelligent packaging technologies by identifying and quantifying VOCs that indicate spoilage of raw Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) under atmospheres (%v/v CO 2 /O 2 /N 2 ) 60/40/0, 60/5/35 and air. Spoilage was examined by microbiological, chemical and sensory analyses over storage time at 4 or 8 °C. Selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) was used for quantifying selected VOCs and amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used for the characterization of the cod microbiota. OTUs classified within the Photobacterium genus increased in relative abundance over time under all storage conditions, suggesting that Photobacterium contributed to spoilage and VOC production. The onset of exponential VOC concentration increase and sensory rejection occurred at high total plate counts (7-7.5 log). Monitoring of early spoilage thus calls for sensitivity for low VOC concentrations., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Biodegradability and antimicrobial activity of food packaging materials are among the most attractive parameters in modern food industries. In order to develop biodegradable poly-lactic acid (PLA) film to antibacterial nanocomposites, different concentration of Zataria multiflora Bioss. essential oil (ZME), propolis ethanolic extract (PEE) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) were incorporated to the polymer by solvent casting method. The resulting films were characterized by mechanical and physical tests and their antimicrobial application was evaluated in-vitro against four common foodborne pathogens and in vacuum-packed cooked sausages during refrigerated storage. Mechanical examination revealed that addition of ZME and PEE made films more flexible and incorporation of CNF improved almost all mechanical parameters tested. Moreover, according to physical analysis, incorporation of 0.5% v/v ZME to the composite primary solutions improved water vapor permeability of the resulting films. Almost all of the active films were effective against the tested bacteria except for PLA/PEE films, and maximum antibacterial effects recorded for the films containing both ZME and PEE. Based on the microbiological and sensory evaluation of the sausages, all of the PLA/1%ZME/PEE composites increased the shelf life to >40days. The results indicate that incorporation of natural antimicrobial substances such as ZME and PEE to packaging material could be an interesting approach in development of active packaging material without significant negative effect on polymer technical properties., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Minimally processed ready-to-eat products are considered a high-risk food because of the possibility of contamination with pathogenic bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes from the animal reservoir, and the minimal processing they undergo. In this study, a sakacin-A anti-Listeria active package was developed and tested on thin-cut veal meat slices (carpaccio)., Results: Enriched food-grade sakacin-A was obtained from a cell-free supernatant of a Lactobacillus sakei culture and applied (0.63 mg cm -2 ) onto the surface of polyethylene-coated paper sheets to obtain an active antimicrobial package. The coating retained antimicrobial features, indicating that the process did not affect sakacin-A functionality, as evidenced in tests carried out in vitro. Thin-cut veal meat slices inoculated with Listeria innocua (a surrogate of pathogenic L. monocytogenes) were laid on active paper sheets. After 48 h incubation at 4 °C, the Listeria population was found to be 1.5 log units lower with respect to controls (3.05 vs 4.46 log colony-forming units (CFU) g -1 )., Conclusion: This study demonstrates the possibility of using an antimicrobial coating containing sakacin-A to inhibit or decrease the Listeria population in ready-to-eat products, thus lowering the risk of food-related diseases. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2016 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Improvement of mechanical and water barrier properties is critical for gelatin films when applied to edible food packaging. A liquid smoke (LS) obtained from hawthorn nucleus was used to improve the performance of gelatin film based on its abundant compounds. Through SPME-GC-MS analysis, 86 volatile and semi-volatile chemical compounds was detected in LS, in which the total carbonyl compounds were 27.60%, with the main aldehyde as 2-furaldehyde (9.83%). For gelatin films, an observable influence of LS on film transparency was observed in gelatin films, but not for its thickness and microstructure. Desirably, adding LS into gelatin solution increased the tensile strength of the films, with a better value of 16.38 MPa as 3 wt% LS added, compared with the control (10.30 MPa). Accordingly, film elongation decreased with a LS dependent manner. Furthermore, the water resistance properties of gelatin film were improved by the LS addition, which was supported by the results of water contact angle, water vapor permeability. Moreover, the addition of LS also led to a higher insolubility for gelatin films. Also, thermal stability of the LS treated gelatin films was slightly enhanced with the DSC analysis. According to the FTIR spectra and crosslinking degree detection results, all the above enhancing of gelatin film should be attributed to the crosslinking between carbonyl groups in LS and amide functionalities in gelatin based on nucleophilic reaction., (© 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®)

Natural self-assembled microstructured particles (diatomaceous earth) were used to develop a gas sensor paper with detection mechanism based on visible and distinct color changes of the sensor paper when exposed to volatile basic nitrogen compounds. The coating formulation for paper was prepared by applying diatomites, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), and pH sensitive dyes on acidic paper substrate. The surface coating was designed to allow a maximum gas flow through the diatomite sensors. The produced sensor paper was tested for sensitivity using different ammonia concentrations and we observed a sensitivity lower limit at 63 ppm. As a comparison, the results show comparable sensitivity levels to carbon nanotube based sensor technologies reported in literature., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Bionanocomposites were developed by casting/evaporation of wheat gluten (WG), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and TiO2 nanoparticles. The effect of addition of different percentages of CNC, and TiO2 on tensile strength (TS), Young's modulus and water sensitivity was studied. A significant improvement in the studied properties is observed when 7.5% CNC and 0.6% TiO2 is added to WG. WG/CNC 7.5%/0.6% TiO2 blend suspension was chosen to coat commercial packaging unbleached kraft paper sheets via 1, 2 and 3 coating layers. A significant enhancement of 56% and 53% in breaking length and burst index, respectively, was achieved for 3 layers coated paper. The antimicrobial activity of the coated papers, against Saccharomyces cervisiae, Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, was investigated and expressed in terms of reduction % of surviving number (CFU) of the tested organisms. More than 98.5% reduction in CFU was observed against the organisms compared to TiO2-free coated paper., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In order to overcome the deficiencies of single layer coating, bilayer coated papers were prepared by two separate coating procedures using various combinations of proteins or polysaccharides with beeswax. Among those combinations, chitosan-beeswax bilayer coated paper showed the best water vapour barrier property. It was observed that as the concentration of chitosan solution increased from 1.0 to 3.0 wt%, its water vapour transport rate (WVTR) decreased from 171.6 to 52.8 g/m(2)/d but using reduced beeswax coating weight (from 10.1 to 4.9 g/m(2)). It also displayed an enhanced performance of grease resistance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that beeswax layer was fitted to chitosan layer so closely that these two layers are indistinguishable. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) further confirmed the existence of an integrated chitosan film between beeswax layer and paper base and a thin composite layer consisting of chitosan and beeswax., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study reports on a method for determination of methanol in paper products by headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC). The method is based on the hydrolysis of the pulp or paper matrix, using a phosphoric acid solution (42.5%) as the medium at 120 °C in 5 h (excluding air contact) in order to release matrix-entrapped methanol, which is then determined by HS-GC. Data show that, under the given conditions of hydrolysis, no methanol was formed from the methoxyl groups in the material. Reproducibility tests of the method generated a relative standard deviation of <3.5%, with recovery in the range of 93.4-102%. The present method is reliable, accurate, and suitable for use in batch testing of the methanol content in paper-related materials. The method can play an important role in addressing food safety concerns that may be raised regarding the use of paper materials in food and beverage packaging.

The question of recycled papers in contact with foods is discussed in detail with respect to regulatory and technical aspects. The legal context is given, and major existing regulations are reviewed. The safety of recycled fibre use is examined with respect to chemical, microbiological and organoleptic contamination. Toxicological testing possibilities on finished paper products are discussed. The harmonization work in progress at the Council of Europe level is presented in detail, and the authors give their personal view on future evolution.

Packaging samples for many kinds of foodstuffs were received from manufacturers together with basic information about the materials used in their production. Half of the 29 samples studied contained phthalates in amounts exceeding 5 mg/kg. Two types of paper bag intended for sugar and exceptionally high phthalate contents although they were flexo printed. The maximum contents of di-isobutylphthalate (DIBP) and dibutylphthalate (DBP) were 450 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The phthalates found originated from adhesives used in the joints of the packaging. In other packagings manufactured at the same time, DIBP concentrations varied from 92 to 193 mg/kg. Phthalates were also determined in sugar before and after packaging. Migration of phthalates ranged from 57 to 74% of the original content in the packaging after 4 months storage. Packed sugar contained DIBP 2.2-2.6 mg/kg and DBP 0.5-1 mg/kg. The sugar packagings were also tested using Tenax as a food stimulant. The results indicated that 69-91% of the original content of the phthalates migrated into Tenex after 10 days at 40 degrees C. The major drawback with migration testing using Tenax is its high cost; it is not practical to fill the whole 1 kg packaging with Tenax, and smaller samples of packaging must be used instead. However, the distribution of substances in the packaging might be non-uniform. In the sugar packagings studied here, the difference between phthalate concentrations in two samples taken from the same packaging was nearly 100-fold.