This document provides an overview of antimicrobial packaging. It discusses the objectives of antimicrobial packaging which is to prevent degradation of food quality by acting as a hurdle against microorganisms. The principles and various systems are explained, including composition of antimicrobial agents and films. Methods for incorporating antimicrobial agents like addition of sachets, direct incorporation, coating, immobilization and antimicrobial polymers are outlined. The document also reviews the mechanism of action, effectiveness, engineering properties and design considerations for antimicrobial food packaging systems.

1. ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING
Pragati Singham
M. Tech (I year)
FPEM
1

2. CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Introduction.
Objective.
Principle of antimicrobial packaging.
Antimicrobial packaging system
a) Composition
b) Types
c) Methods of antimicrobial agent incorporation
d) Mechanism
Engineering properties
Effectiveness
Design of antimicrobial food packaging system.
References.
2

3. 1. INTRODUCTION
• Antimicrobial packaging is one of the application of active
packaging.
• It prevents surface growth of pathogenic microorganisms in
food by use of antimicrobial agents where large portion of
spoilage and contamination occurs.
• It allows a controlled release of antimicrobial agents into the
food surface during storage and distribution.
3

4. 2. OBJECTIVES
Antimicrobial packaging
Conventional food packaging
4

5. 3. PRINCIPLE
• Antimicrobial packaging system is a hurdle to prevent
degradation of total quality of packaged food, providing
protection against micro-organisms.
Fig.
5
J. H. Han, The University of Manitoba, Canada

6. 4. ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING SYSTEM
4. (a) COMPOSITION
These consists of two componentsANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS:1. Natural antimicrobial agents
– Plant sources-extracts of spices, oils.
– Animal sources- chitosan.
– Microorganism sources- bacteriocins, enzymes.
2. Chemical antimicrobial agents
– Benzoic acid, sorbic acid,
FILMS:– LDPE, LLDPE, PET, polyolefin, EVA
6

7. 4. (b) TYPES OF ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING
SYSTEM
7

8. 4. (c) METHODS OF INCORPORATING ANTIMICROBIAL
AGENTS INTO FILMS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Addition of sachets – pads
Incorporation directly into the polymers
Coating or adsorption on polymer surface
Immobilization of antimicrobials by covalent
linkages
5. Antimicrobial polymers
8

9. 4.(c) METHODS…
4.(c).1 ADDITION OF SACHETS-PADS
(Source: Darby, PKGSC 430)

10. 4.(c) METHODS…
4. (c). 2. INCORPORATING DIRECTLY INTO POLYMERS32
EXTRUDER
10
(Source: Dzrby, PKGSC 430)

11. 4.(c) METHODS…
4.(C). 3. COATING OR ADSORPTION ON POLYMER
SURFACE32
Fig. Gravure coater
Gravure coater
11
(Source: Darby, PKGSC 430)

12. 4.(c) METHODS..
4.(c)4. IMMOBILIZATION OF ANTIMICROBIALS BY
COVALENT LINKAGES32
12
(Source: Darby, PKGSC 430

13. 4.(c) METHODS…
4. (c). 5.ANTIMICROBIAL POLYMER
Chitosan polymer
Chitosan polymer
Poly-L-lysine
13
(Source: Darby, PKGSC 430

14. 4.(d) MECHANISM OF ANTIMICROBIAL
AGENTS:-23
Package/food system
Package/headspace/food system
14
J. H. Han, The University of Manitoba, Canada

15. RELEASE PROFILE OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
FROM VARIOUS SYSTEM
15
Jung H. Han , Innovations in Food Packaging

16. 5. ENGINEERING PROPERTIES33
1. Gas barrier properties
2. Tensile strength
16

17. EFFECTIVENESS
Ham (infected by E.coli)
Inhibition zone of E.coli
17
Jung H. Han , Innovations in Food Packaging

18. 6. DESIGN OF ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING
SYSTEM
• Antimicrobial agent 34
• Incorporation methodSlide 32
• AM-agent packaging interactions32
• Regulatory requirements32
• Quality control 32
• Cost 32
18

19. COMMERCIAL ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING
PRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURES
Trade name
Active compounds
Manufacturer
Microban
Triclosan
Microban Products Co.(USA)
Micro garde
Clove and others
Rhone- poulenc (USA)
Take guard
Bamboo extract
Takex.Co. (Japan)
Microfree
Ag, copper oxide, zinc
silicate
DuPont (USA)
Microatmosphere
Chlorine dioxide
Southwest Research Institute
(USA), Bernard Technologies
(USA).
19

20. RECENT ADVANCEMENT IN ANTIMICROBIAL
PACKAGING FILMS
A NEW ERA IN THE BATTLE AGAINST BACTERIA
• Oplon (Israel) along with Reynold group commercialized the
antimicrobial packaging.
• No need for preservatives.
• Reduce the cost of refrigeration and chilling.
• Protects against antibiotic resistant and heat resistance
pathogens.
• Non-toxic, environmental friendly, and do not leach or release
chemicals.
20

21. 7. REFERNCES
• Han,J.H, (2000). Antimicrobial food packaging. Food
technology 54(3):56-65
• Ha, J.U., Kim, Y.-M. and Lee, D.-S. (2001), Multilayered
antimicrobial polyethylene films applied to the packaging of
ground beef. Packag. Technol. Sci.
• Han,J.H, (2003 ). Antimicrobial food packaging. In: Novel Food
Packaging Techniques, edited by Ahvenainen, R., Cambridge:
Woodhead publishing, pp 50-70
• Jin, T. and Zhang, H. (2008), Biodegradable Polylactic Acid
Polymer with Nisin for Use in Antimicrobial Food Packaging.
Journal of Food Science, 73
• Ouattara, B., Simard, R.E., Piette, G., Bégin, A. and Holley, R.A.
(2000), Diffusion of Acetic and Propionic Acids from Chitosanbased Antimicrobial Packaging Films. Journal of Food Science,
21
65: 768–773.

22. 22

23. 23

24. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS:-6
Lee et. al (2001)
Evaluated the antimicrobial activity of grounded beef
against Micrococcus flavus and E. coli multilayer
polyethylene incorporated with 0.5 to 1.0 % grape fruit
seed extract (GFSE).
Rakshit et.al (2005)
Incorporated GO (garlic oil) up to levels at least 100 μl/g, PS
(potassium sorbate) at 100 mg/g or N (Nisin) at 51,000 IU/g
of chitosan have effective antimicrobial activity against S.
aureus, L. monocytogenes, and B. cereus.
Linshu Liu et. Al (2007)
Investigated the thermostability of both nisin & nisaplin in
the presence of pectin during preparation poly lactic coextruded film.
24

25. ANTIMICROBIAL FILMS:-6
Dawson et. al (1998)
Examined the inhibition activity of bacterial growth by
introducing both nisin and lysozyme in combination with
EDTA into films made from soy protein and corn zein
Jin, and Zhang (2008)
Demonstrated the Antimicrobial activity of PLA/nisin films
against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and
Salmonella Enteritidis in orage juice and liquid egg white.
Lopez et.al (2007)
Developed flexible antimicrobial film PP and PE/EVOH
incorporated with vapour phase essensial oils of cinnamon.
Robert et. Al (2007)
Investigated antimicrobial activity of Listeria innocua by
incorporation of oregano oil (0.5 % w/w), lemongrass (1.01.5 % w/w) in puree alginate edible coating on fresh cut
‘Fuji’ apples.
25

26. MECHANISM:-16
Outtara et.al (2006)
Investigated that diffusion of acetic acid or propionic acid
from thin chitosan based antimicrobial packaging film was
reduced on lowering temperature from 24 to 4 °C
26

27. PROPERTIES19
Han & Floros (2003)
Concluded no significant effect of potassium sorbate 3%
(w/w) (antimicrobial agent) on the tensile properties of
extruded packaging film.
Ku & Song (2007)
Suggested that incorporation of nisin (12000 IU/ml) into
corn zein and gelatin (edible film) increase the tensile
strength by 11.6 Mpa. It also reduce the water vapour
permeability of film resulting in 1.4 log cycle reduction for
corn zein and 0.6 log cycle reduction for gelatin
27

28. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS19
28

29. Incorporation of Antimicrobial Agents
29

30. Slide 19
30

31. Slide 19
31

32. SUITABLE FABRICATION METHOD OF
ANTIMICROBIAL PACKAGING SYSTEM
Antimocrobial
substance
Extrusion or heat
pressing11
Surface
Solvent coating12
immobilization or
chemical bonding13
Organic acids and
their salts
PE, LDPE, PET, PS
PEMA
Chitosan film,
proteins, methyl
cellulose
Bacteriocins or
peptides
LDPE
PS, silicon, starch
Proteins,
polysaccharides
PVOH, nylon
Cellulose acetate,
PVOH
Enzymes
Volatile and non
volatile plant
extracts
LDPE
------
Chitosan
Ag-zeolite in PP,
LLDPE, PVC
Polysaccharides,
protein, paper,
copolymer with
olefins
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