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Chitosan Coating Functionalized with Flaxseed Oil and Green Tea Extract as a Bio-Based Solution for Beef
Cíntia G Mendes1,2, Joana T Martins1,2, Fernanda L Lüdtke1,2
1CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 13, 2023
Summary
A new bio-based coating combining chitosan, green tea extract, and flaxseed oil effectively preserves vacuum-packaged beef. This sustainable packaging solution reduces oxidation, microbial growth, and color changes, maintaining beef quality during refrigerated storage.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Sustainable Packaging
- Meat Science
Background:
- Sustainable meat production requires innovative packaging solutions.
- Bio-based coatings offer a promising alternative to conventional packaging.
- Chitosan, green tea extract, and essential oils possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a chitosan (Ch) + green tea extract (GTE) + flaxseed oil (FO) coating on vacuum-packaged beef quality.
- To assess the impact of the coating on lipid oxidation, microbial growth, color, and texture.
- To determine the shelf-life extension of fresh beef cuts under refrigerated conditions.
Main Methods:
- Development and optimization of a Ch-GTE-FO bio-based coating.
- Application of the coating to fresh beef cuts (shoulder, knuckle, striploin) under vacuum packaging.
- Analysis of physicochemical properties (pH, contact angle, rheology) and shelf-life parameters (lipid oxidation, microbial counts, color, texture) over five days at 4 °C.
Main Results:
- The optimized Ch-GTE-FO coating (2% Ch + 2% GTE + 0.1% FO) significantly delayed lipid oxidation.
- Coated beef exhibited reduced total viable counts (TVC) and Enterobacteriaceae growth compared to controls.
- The coating minimized total color changes (∆E*) and preserved original textural attributes (hardness, adhesiveness, springiness).
Conclusions:
- The Ch-GTE-FO coating is effective in preserving the quality and safety of vacuum-packaged fresh beef.
- This bio-based packaging approach enhances the shelf-life of beef during refrigerated storage.
- The developed coating represents a sustainable solution for the meat industry.
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