Scientist has developed a new kind of natural packaging wrap derived from the shells of shrimp and other crustaceans which could go significantly beyond the preservation potential of today’s plastic wrap. Researchers have spent three years developing their new composite material, which they say can double the shelf-life of perishable food such as bread. The film’s main constituent is chitosan, a polymer synthesised from the exoskeletons of crustaceans. it’s bio-degradable and possesses an excellent film-forming ability. Chitosan also has antimicrobial and antifungal properties, and the researchers have fortified the polymer with grapefruit seed extract (GFSE), which is antioxidant and possesses antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and fungicidal properties. The resulting composite is comparable in strength and flexibility to regular food wrapping, but its molecular makeup means it can also prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria in foods it’s used to cover.
