INFORM February 2026

EXTRACTS & DISTILLATES INFORM 39

meet consumer demand for chemical-free alternatives. This study presents the development of an alginate based active edible coating incorporating Brassica juncea (GM) and Raphanus sativus (RT) sprout extracts to prolong tomato shelf life. The coating was prepared by modifying glycerol-plasticized alginate (A) with zein/chitosan (Z/CH) microparticles (MPs) containing the sprout extracts as bioactive antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. The physicochemical properties of the films were characterized using FTIR , SEM, TGA/DSC, contact angle, water vapor permeability, and tensile testing. FTIR analysis revealed interactions between alginate and MPs, TGA confirmed thermal stability , SEM showed uniform MP dispersion, and tensile tests indicated improved flexibility with extract addition, enhancing coating suitability. Encapsulated extracts increased antioxidant activity, achieving 52 % DPPH inhibition for GM and 70 % for RT. The antimicrobial assay demonstrated that RT formulated films showed moderate biocidal activity against Bacillus cereus and Salmonella enterica , highlighting their potential to improve food safety. Furthermore, tomato shelf-life testing revealed a 30-day extension using RT loaded MPs, with no visible changes in appearance or texture. These findings suggest that encapsulating RT in plasticized alginate coatings enhances tomato longevity

and quality, supporting the use of edible films for active food packaging applications. RECENT TREND IN THE SHELF LIFE EXTENSION OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS USING EDIBLE PACKAGING ENRICHED WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES (AMPS) Nouri, M., et al. , Food Control , 181, 111768, 2026. Meat and meat products are highly susceptible to various pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, including Lactobacillus , Pseudomonas , Staphylococcus , Salmonella , Bacillus , and Campylobacter species. These products can become contaminated during slaughter, transportation, storage, thawing, and processing. Recently, edible packaging has emerged as an eco-friendly food packaging technology designed to protect meat and meat products from spoilage. Edible films and coatings have a great potential for carrying natural antimicrobial agents, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs are typically classified based on their three-dimensional structure, biosynthesis mechanisms, peptide properties, biological sources, biological activities, and covalent bonding patterns. Recent research has shown that edible packaging incorporating AMPs can significantly extend the shelf life of meat and meat products. Nisin has Listeria , Clostridium , Enterobacteriaceae,

been the most studied AMP, incorporated into edible packaging materials such as sodium alginate, collagen, gelatin, and chitosan to prolong the shelf life of these products. Contemporary studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of edible packaging containing nisin in extending the shelf life of beef slices, chicken breast, chicken fillet, dry-cured ham, pork, and Vienna sausage. Additionally, several studies have reported that other AMPs, including sakacin A, ε -polylysine, Lfcin β , PLGG, MBP-1, LL-37, Cys-LL-37, RW4, and melittin, significantly extended the shelf life of various meat types and products (e.g., beef slices, pork, ready-to-eat turkey breast, and smoked pork). Therefore, it can be concluded that utilizing edible packaging containing AMPs could be a promising strategy for prolonging the shelf life of meat and meat products. ADVANCED APPLICATIONS OF EDIBLE COATINGS/FILMS FOR FRESH MUSHROOMS PRESERVATION Tian, Q., et al. , Food Hydrocolloids , 172, Part 3, 112081, 2026. Fresh mushrooms are highly prone to quality deterioration after harvest due to their high moisture content, enzymatic browning, and microbial contamination. Edible coatings, composed of natural biopolymers, lipids, and bioactive compounds, have been widely investigated as sustainable strategies to extend shelf life and maintain