Application of Gelatin in Food Packaging: A Review

Owing to the increasing environmental concerns and requirements for high-quality foods, edible films and coatings (based on proteins, polysaccharides, natural phenolic active substances, etc.) are being developed as effective alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. Gelatin is extracted from collagen. It is an ideal material for food packaging due to its versatile advantages such as low price, polymerization, biodegradability, good antibacterial and antioxidant properties, etc. However, gelatin film exists poor waterproof and mechanical properties, which limit its developments and applications in food packaging. Previous studies show that pure gelatin can be modified by adding active ingredients and incorporating them with bio-polymers to improve its mechanical properties, aiming to achieve the desirable effect of preservation. This review mainly shows the preparation and molding ways of gelatin-based edible films and the applications of gelatin modified with other biopolymers. Furthermore, this review provides the latest advances in gelatin-based biodegradable packaging and food applications that exhibit outstanding advantages in food preservation.

Automated summary

Edible films and coatings, based on proteins, polysaccharides, and natural phenolic active substances, are being developed as effective alternatives to traditional plastic packaging due to increasing environmental concerns and the demand for high-quality foods. Gelatin, extracted from collagen, is an ideal material for food packaging, but its poor waterproof and mechanical properties restrict its application. Previous studies have shown that modifying gelatin with active ingredients and other bio-polymers can improve its properties and achieve desirable preservation effects. This review focuses on the preparation and applications of gelatin-based edible films, as well as the latest advances in gelatin-based biodegradable packaging and food preservation.