Innovative edible film for fresh fruit packaging: Formulation and characterization

Edible packaging films are gaining attention as an innovative and sustainable solution for food preservation, providing a protective barrier against physical damage, microbial contamination, and environmental factors. This study aimed to develop an advanced edible packaging film by incorporating galactooligosaccharides (GOS) to strengthen intermolecular interactions and improve film integrity. The composite film, consisting of chitosan (CS), zein, and GOS, was carefully optimized and thoroughly characterized for its physicochemical properties. The impact of GOS incorporation on the film's mechanical strength, barrier properties, and performance in food preservation was systematically investigated. The resulting CS-Zein-GOS film, fabricated with a 1 % (w/v) concentration using the solvent casting technique, exhibited enhanced light-blocking capabilities, improved hydrophobicity, and significantly improved barrier properties against water vapor and oxygen permeability compared to the CS counterpart. Moreover, the composite film displayed thermal stability up to 303.91 °C and superior flexibility, as indicated by elongation at break and tensile strength values. Application tests showed that the CS-Zein-GOS coating effectively extended the shelf life of strawberries and cherries at room temperature by up to three days. Analytical techniques revealed the interaction between the components and confirmed the potential of this novel water-soluble, edible film in food packaging applications, particularly for fresh produce, to extend shelf life and reduce plastic waste. These findings highlight the promising prospects of edible packaging films in addressing sustainability challenges in the food industry.