Application of palladium-based oxygen scavenger to extend the mould free shelf life of bakery products

Abstract

An oxygen scavenging film based on a catalytic system with palladium (CSP) was combined with modified atmosphere (MA) packaging to extend the mould free shelf life (MFSL) of bakery products. Par-baked buns, toast bread and gluten-free bread inoculated with Aspergillus niger spores were packed in normal atmosphere (NA) and under MA (with 2 vol.-% of O2) with or without CSP. Mould growth was detected after 2–3 days on all products packed under NA as well as under MA without CO2 and CSP. Use of CO2 in MA extended the MFSL by 8–10 days, 16–18 days and 3–4 days for par-baked buns, toast and gluten-free bread, respectively. Use of CSP with MA reduced the oxygen concentration in headspace from 2 vol.-% to < 0.01 vol.-% within 105–190 min with all bakery products. This led to a further increase in MFSL of bakery products by 3–9 days.