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Self-Assembled Metal-Phenolic-Agar Microparticle-Derived Coatings Enable Scalable and Sustainable Fresh Produce
Ivy Chiu1, Mohammad Kamali2, Qingshi Tu2
1Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z4, Canada.
Abstract:
The burden of food waste highlights the need for effective, scalable preservation strategies. Herein, we developed a natural, biocompatible, plant-based, and consumer-friendly metal-phenolic-agar (MPN-Agar) coating for postharvest preservation. The coating was formed through coordination between micronutrient ions (e.g., Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Fe3+) and tannic acid within an agar matrix, producing stable microscale colloidal particles. Applied to strawberries, grapes, and apple slices, the coating extended shelf life by at least 2-fold. In strawberries, it reduced 4 day weight loss from 30.59% to 13.36% and increased firmness from 18.53 to 41.77 N. The coating also showed antibacterial activity, no cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells, easy removal by water rinsing, and compatibility with food-grade agar. Notably, MPN-Agar coating under room-temperature storage outperformed uncoated refrigeration for strawberries, suggesting potential to reduce cold-chain reliance. Life cycle assessment showed lower carbon footprint and freshwater ecotoxicity than refrigeration, supporting its potential as a sustainable preservation alternative.
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