Food Coatings and Preservation Technologies

Food Coatings and Preservation Technologies presents the most recent studies about the application of edible coatings to a wide variety of foods. Edible coatings are globally utilized for preventing food product contamination from harmful microorganisms and pathogens. This book aims to highlight the developments made in designing new edible coatings. Herein, particular attention is given to the main components, manufacturing methods, and their application to specific products. This book also discusses the current state-of-the-art alternative to conventional package usage, providing the main features biodegradable packaging should meet for distinct uses for the conservation and improvement of various food products. This information will be helpful for processors to select the best coating material and its effective concentration for different fresh and minimal processed vegetables. Each chapter delves into edible-based coating research and critical developments to enhance food preservation standards. The first section focuses on biopolymer-based edible coatings, food packaging, and preservation. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the current state and critical developments in biodegradable polymer packaging systems for food applications. As technology advances, the next section highlights ongoing research focusing on optimizing coating effectiveness and the development of eco-friendly and sustainable materials. This section's objective is to identify edible materials and combine the most recent information available to provide a comprehensive understanding of formulation methods and approaches to enhancing the properties of the coatings applied to food products. The final section discusses encapsulation techniques and levels of retention to improve shelf-life. Functional foods play a significant role in the desire for better food quality.