American Thought: 100% Vegetable Edible Packaging Film

Ben Wang compiled reports: At the end of 2004, consumers will be able to eat multi-purpose edible packaging film made of vegetables and fruits.

Many U.S. companies want to be able to put 100% of packaging films made from vegetables and fruits into commercial operations. These packaging films can be produced on a large scale and have a price advantage. U.S. companies want the packaging film to be both a food packaging material and a soluble vegetable film that can be dissolved in the mouth. Currently these U.S. companies are negotiating with manufacturers. More use of the packaging film will be announced in the fall of 2004.

The thickness of the packaging film is equivalent to the thickness of a piece of paper and can be cut into an envelope-sized shape. Vitamins such as vitamins can be added to the packaging film to increase its nutritional value, adding flavors of various flavors to increase its taste, adding fats and oils to enhance its water repellency, and adding gums to improve its oxygen barrier properties .

The inventor of the packaging film, US chemist Tara McHugh, said that this food packaging film will be a little more expensive than synthetic films, but it is the most value-added product. Its price depends on its use and formula. McHugh explained that biodegradable membranes have many uses to prolong the shelf life of foods with low water activity, such as nuts and frozen meat.

Packaging films made with tomato can be used to wrap pasta. When they are to be consumed, the addition of a water wrap to the packaging film will dissolve the sauce. Tomato packaging film can also be used to package meat products. Food packaging films can be made from a variety of food products including strawberries, apples, plows, mangoes, papayas, potatoes, asparagus, and the like. It can be made from a single fruit and vegetable, or it can be made from several mixed vegetables or fruits.

McHugh said that the food packaging film will be a very good packaging product because it has a strong adhesiveness and it is easier to stick to the edge of the bowl. Moreover, the gum can be added to the packaging film to enhance this function.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research on packaging films is to encourage people to eat more vegetables and fruits. (Compilation; Xu Jie)