Application of antimicrobial packaging based on modified calcium carbonate and EOs for RTE meat products

Abstract

Highly porous modified calcium carbonate (MCC) powder has been successfully integrated into packaging material as a coating and the coated packaging films were loaded with 5, 10 or 30 wt % thyme and rosemary essential oil (EO). Resulting MCC labels were applied as labels and showed antimicrobial activities against L. innocua in in vitro test. After 6 days MCC labels with 10 and 30 wt % thyme EO showed significant reductions in in vitro tests (2.9 and > 8.5 log CFU/filter). When MCC labels with rosemary EO were used, only 30 wt % loading showed a significant reduction (1.6 log CFU/filter). Subsequently, the antimicrobial activity of MCC labels with 30 wt % EOs against L. innocua on ready to eat meat product were studied under normal atmosphere and modified atmosphere (MA). Use of MCC labels with 30 wt % thyme EO loading combined with MA packaging showed a significant microbial reduction of 1.2 log CFU/g on cooked ham after 21 days (compared to untreated MCC labels packaged under MA). On the other hand, use of MCC labels loaded with 30 wt % rosemary EO (with MA) showed significant reductions of L. innocua on sliced cooked chicken breast (2.6 log CFU/g) as well as cooked ham (1.3 log CFU/g).