Edible coating additives

Olivas GI, Rodriguez JJ and Barbosa-Canovas GV. 2003. Edible coatings composed of methylcellulose, stearic acid, and additives to preserve quality of pear wedges. J Food Proc Preserv 27(4) 299—320. 

Ouattara, B., Giroux, M., Yefsah, R., et al. 2002. Microbiological and biochemical characteristics of ground beef as affected by gamma irradiation, food additives and edible coating film. Radiation Physics and Chemistry 63 299-304. 

Edible coatings cannot be typically considered packages bnt rather physical food protecting barriers, which can additionally act as carriers of active and/or bioactive substances and controlled release of flavor molecules, giving them an added-valne. Edible film can carry active components, snch as flavors and other food additives, in the form of hard capsules, soft gel capsules, microcapsules, soluble strips, flexible pouches, coatings on hard particles, and others. ... 

Uses Emulsifier, aerating agent for foods, shortenings, toppings, cakes, edible coatings plasticizer for chewing gum base antifoam lubricant plastics additive... 

Edible coatings are films formed directly in the food surface by inunersion of the food product in the coating solution (Krochta and De Mulder-Johnston, 1997). Therefore, coatings are part of food products to protect or enhance them in some characteristic and they can be directly eaten or removed before consumption Moreover, edible coatings can be improved by the addition of active substances to form active food packaging, enhancing functional or specific properties of foods, such as the control of food oxidation and microbial growth (Cuq et al., 1995 Han, 2001 Jarimopas et al., 2007). 

The substituted phenols and cresols constitute about half the total volume of this group. Para-t-butylphenol is produced by the alkylation of phenol with isobutylene. The principal applications for this derivative are in the manufacture of modified phenolic resins for the rubber industry and in surface coatings. BHT is obtained from isobutylene and p-cresol. Technical-grade BHT is an antioxidant for plastics and elastomers, and is a gum inhibitor in gasoline. Food-grade BHT is an antioxidant in edible oils, preserves, and many other foods. 2,6-Di-t-butylphenol is used to produce a wide range of plastics additives, antioxidants, and gasoline additives. 

The addition of nonlipid fillers or bulking agents to improve the functional properties of edible moisture barrier (viscosity, adherence on substrate) is more frequent in commercial and patented coatings/films than in scientific literature. Indeed, in commercial references the barriers are often tested on the product to protect. Formulations are thus developed to try to adjust the viscosity of the coating and its mechanical properties in order to obtain a good adherence and protection to the coated product. 

In addition, the coating has to resist to the conditions of storage and of preparation of the food product, for example, storage temperature, oven or microwave heating. Many ready-to-eat composite food products to which edible moisture barriers are... 

Coating segments with an edible alginate film utilizing a calcium salt hardener provided sufficient calcium to effectively firm soft, late season segments (Table VI). Calcium supplied by the hardener increased segment firmness 54%, and membrane shear, 50% over controls. An additional 5% calcium in the hardener further increased segment firmness and membrane shear over control values, by 89 and 85%, respectively. 

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