Antimicrobial edible packaging as a means to prolong the shelf life of chicken

Abstract

ε-polylysine is a homopolymer of an L-lysine-essential amino acids which antimicrobial activity exhibited positive results in several studies before. This study observed the antimicrobial activity of different concentrations of ε-polylysine (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) incorporated in glycerol plasticized alginate films, during 10 days of storage at 4oC, against, lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae present in chicken breast meat. Bactericidal effects of ε-PL were obtained against Enterobacteriaceae when higher concentrations (0.2% and 0.3%) of the antimicrobial agent were used. The films did not exhibit inhibitory effect against LAB-reduction in growth rate was not observed. Furthermore, the films showed to be effective in color retention of the meat samples, analyses on the moisture uptake of the ε-PL containing alginate films were conducted. The films showed high rate of moisture uptake due to their hydrophilic nature. The consentration of the ε-PL did not show to have any effect on the moisture uptake of the aliginate films.