Active packaging of corn starch with pectin extract and essential oil of Turmeric Longa Linn: Preparation, characterization and application in sliced bread

The use of active packaging to reduce food waste has been a very effective alternative. An eminent concern is the use of plastic materials of petroleum origin and toxic additives in the processing of these packages. Thus, the focus on the use of biodegradable and natural raw materials that minimize waste generation and promote greater consumer safety has been preferable. The objective of the research was to investigate the effects of turmeric essential oil (TEO) on corn starch and pectin extract films manufactured by solution casting method. The anti-oxidant and antimicrobial potential of the oil was confirmed by the tests: antimicrobial diffusion disk, deter-mination of the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity by the DPPH and FRAP method. The chromatographic analysis confirmed the presence of active chemical constituents such as Turmerone, Ar-Turmerone and beta-Turmerone. The results showed that the oil promoted a change in the color of the films, increased mechanical strength and reduced flexibility, keeping transparency, solubility, WVP and thermal sta-bility unchanged. In the direct application test of the film as packaging for sliced bread, no visible contamination was detected during the nine weeks of analysis. Therefore, the active film with 3 % TEO was shown to be a viable solution for manufacturing biodegradable and safe active films that can be applied as food packaging.