Biodegradable meat packaging: Microbial safety and control for environmental pollution

Abstract

Plastic fragments from packaging material not only pollute the environment but also contaminate food material, causing detrimental health effects. The ultimate solution to this “white” pollution is biodegradable food packaging material. These films can be produced using proteins, polysaccharide and lipid-based materials and can enhance the shelf life of perishable commodities like meat and meat products by incorporating the natural antioxidant and microbial compound in packaging matrix, like essential oils. Essential oils of the aromatic plants due to their diverse phenolic profile possess strong antimicrobial and antioxidant potential, they open new doors of research to develop less hazardous food preservatives and drugs. These films and coatings improve nutritional and sensory attributes of packaged food. These films not only improve food quality but also overcome the burden of environmental pollution.

Keywords

• meat and meat products
• antimicrobial
• biodegradable
• edible film