research

Packaging protects fruits and vegetables from damage and contaminants keeping them fresh longer, but it also produces a hefty amount of plastic waste. What if there could be a renewable and biodegradable alternative for the millions of pieces of plastic wrap thrown away every day?

As part of the project "Development of natural bioaromas to increase the shelf life of fresh food and reduce food waste," which was led by a team from the Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Alicante, the researchers developed the new material from the core and rind of pineapples.

According to its developers, the material features active natural compounds with antioxidant capacity that can both be transformed into packaging containers and help to preserve the food held within those containers, thereby increasing its shelf life.

Biocomposite Films for Food Packaging – An Important Proponent of Biorefineries

The traditional biodiesel sector could be reconfigured into a unique biorefinery that produces protein isolates and antioxidants using sunflower meal (SFM) and fermented goods from crude glycerol, like bacterial cellulose (BC). The expansion of biorefineries will only be viable if commercially viable bio-based goods that can rival petroleum-based analogs are produced.

Plastics are exceptionally useful materials for packaging and all kinds of consumer items, but poorly managed plastic waste contributes to land and ocean pollution. This problem can, in principle, be prevented by recycling (Fig. 1). However, many plastic products were not designed for mechanical recycling, which involves melting and reprocessing, and therefore produces lower-quality material than the original plastic.

Bits of plastic dust have been floating around our environment for as long as humans have been using plastic, but scientists have only recently started investigating how these particles may affect our health. Microplastics are by definition smaller than a pencil eraser, so humans and animals may inhale or ingest them without knowing.

Past studies have identified microplastics in human stool and autopsy samples, but this is the first time scientists have discovered plastic particles lodged in the lungs of living patients.

Key points:

• Antibacterial texturing kills bacteria, extending food’s shelf life.
• Comes amid huge demand to improve the lifespan of food products, particularly for export.
• Texture can be scaled up for mass production.

The lab-made nanotexture from an Australian-Japanese team of scientists kills up to 70% of bacteria and retains its effectiveness when transferred to plastic.

More than 30% of food produced for human consumption becomes waste, with entire shipments rejected if bacterial growth is detected.

Microplastic pollution has been detected in human blood for the first time, with scientists finding the tiny particles in almost 80% of the people tested.

The discovery shows the particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs. The impact on health is as yet unknown. But researchers are concerned as microplastics cause damage to human cells in the laboratory and air pollution particles are already known to enter the body and cause millions of early deaths a year.

Toyo Printing Inks, Inc., a member of the Japan-based Toyo Ink Group, recently brought to market the LP-9000 Toyo Life Premium Food LO/LM, a new series of sheetfed offset inks with low odor and low migration characteristics. 

Engineered and manufactured in accordance with EuPIA (European Printing Ink Association) guidelines and the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), the LP-9000 LO/LM product is suitable for use in printed packages for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other sensitive applications. 

“We were looking for a solution for printing variable data for personalisation of labels at high speeds with high quality. After thorough research, we found that the Jetsci inkjet imprinting system was a good match. It is productive and delivers great quality of printing,” says Devlin/Wade Brodowicz, directors, Blueprint Labelling.

Blueprint was established in 2012 by Devlin and Wade Brodowicz, initially trading as Label Mart, before specialising in variable data printing. It still forms an integral part of the business, among other specialised and full-colour printing.

Older adults are open to using smart packaging to improve their medication-taking experience, a new study finds.

Smart packages are used to electronically monitor when patients take their medication. When the prescription is not followed as advised by their physician the smart system can notify patients and their caregivers.