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Maillard reaction products as antimicrobial components for packaging films

Carolin Hauser1, Ulla Müller, Tanja Sauer

  • 1Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV), Giggenhauser Strasse 35, 85354 Freising, Germany; Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Food Chemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schuhstrasse 19, 91052 Erlangen, Germany.

Food Chemistry
|October 17, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maillard reaction products (MRPs) generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), showing antimicrobial properties. Incorporating MRPs into active packaging films effectively inhibits bacterial growth, offering a novel food preservation strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Food Science
  • Materials Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Active packaging utilizes antimicrobial agents to extend food shelf-life.
  • Maillard reaction products (MRPs) exhibit antimicrobial activity, partly due to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the H2O2 generation capacity of an MRP fraction.
  • To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of MRP-incorporated active packaging films against Escherichia coli.

Main Methods:

  • An MRP fraction was extracted and its H2O2 production was monitored under varying concentrations and temperatures.
  • The active MRP fraction was incorporated into a polyvinyl acetate lacquer and coated onto low-density polyethylene films.
  • Antimicrobial efficacy was assessed by measuring bacterial log-reduction against E. coli.

Main Results:

  • The MRP fraction demonstrated de novo H2O2 generation, reaching up to 335 μM.
  • An MRP concentration of 16.1 g/L completely inhibited E. coli growth for 24 hours.
  • The coated packaging film generated approximately 100 μM H2O2 and achieved a >5 log-cycle reduction of E. coli.

Conclusions:

  • MRPs are effective H2O2 generators with significant antimicrobial potential.
  • MRP-functionalized active packaging materials show promise for inhibiting bacterial contamination in food products.
Keywords:
Active packagingAntimicrobial filmsFOXHydrogen peroxideLDPEMRMMRPMaillard reaction mixtureMaillard reaction productMaillard reaction productsPBSPCAPreservationcfucolony forming unitsdmdry matterferrous oxidation xylenol orangelow density polyethyleneperchloric acidphosphate-buffered saline

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