Antimicrobial packaging films with a sorbic acid based coating

Following the enhancing demand for packaged raw food products with extended shelf-life, intensive efforts have been made developing active packaging materials with incorporated antimicrobials. With regard to technical problems in the production of antimicrobial films containing sorbic acid, the aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of packaging films coated with a lacquer containing sorbic acid to inhibit the growth of contaminating microorganisms on food surfaces. The antimicrobial efficacy was determined applying the test strains Escherichia coli DSM 498, Listeria monocytogenes DSM 15675 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae DSM 70449 according to the Japanese Industrial Standard Method JIS Z 2801:2000. Storage tests were performed with Gouda cheese and pork loin inoculated with the test strain E. coli and covered with the antimicrobial films and reference films respectively. In both storage experiments the results of the viable cell count showed a significant inhibitory effect on E .coli due to the antimicrobial properties of the developed packaging films, whereas there was no reduction of viable cells on the surface of the reference samples. These findings affirm that antimicrobial packaging films with a sorbic acid based coating are promising to provide a significant contribution to the quality and safety of packaged food.