Chitosan and gelatine biopolymer-based active/biodegradable packaging for the preservation of fish and fishery products

Fish and fishery products (FFP) are considered nutraceutical foods that are believed to improve human health. FFP are highly prone to deterioration due to microorganisms, oxidation and enzymatic spoilage. Hence, packaging FFP in appropriate material has a pivotal role in shelf-life extension. Considering the non-degradable nature and toxicity issues associated with synthetic material, alternatives originating from natural sources have become popular. Chitosan and gelatine are known to exhibit a wide range of bioactivity making them suitable for individual and combined applications for preservation. Chitosan and gelatine films are used for the inclusion of other materials (antimicrobial and antioxidant) to form active packaging with improved properties. The active film formed using chitosan and gelatine exhibits inactivation of microorganisms and inhibits oxidation activity. This review describes the recent knowledge on the development and characterisation of active packaging material by using chitosan and gelatine as well as the application of chitosan and gelatine-based active films for the preservation of FFP to extend the shelf-life.