Effect of nanocomposite alginate‐based film incorporated with cumin essential oil and TiO₂ nanoparticles on chemical, microbial, and sensory properties of fresh meat/beef

Abstract

The environmental problems of synthetic plastics in food packaging have led researchers to synthesize biodegradable films. In this study, nanocomposite alginate-based films containing TiO₂ nanoparticles (1%) and cumin essential oil (CEO, 2%) were fabricated and the potential of these films to protect beef from chemical [pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN), peroxide value, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA)] and microbial [total viable count, <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>, lactic acid bacteria, <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp.] spoilage was evaluated during 24 days of storage (4°C). The active films significantly induced the reduction in lipid oxidation, microbial growth, and TVBN values, improved the sensory attributes of treated samples, maintained the redness of meats for a longer time, and increased the shelf life of beef from 4 to 16 days. The results of this study showed that TiO₂/CEO alginate-based nanocomposite film has a great potential for application in meat and meat products.