Comparative Quality Changes of Fresh-cut Melon in Bio-based and Petroleum-based Plastic Containers during Storage

Abstract

Fresh-cut melon, ‘Rupia red’ cultivar, was packaged in snap-fit closed packages made from polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and stored at 4 and 10°C for 10 d. Changes in quality of fresh-cut melon, including weight loss, juice leakage, surface color, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C and sensory quality, were evaluated throughout the storage period. Overall quality of fresh-cut melon declined regardless of the packaging material. Melon cubes in both packages showed increases in weight loss, juice leakage and TA and they showed decreases in surface color (L*, a*, b*), firmness, SSC, pH, vitamin C and sensory evaluation. No significant difference in color, firmness, pH, TA or sensory evaluation was observed either of the packages at 4°C, but significant differences in color (L*, a*, b*, ΔE) between the melon cubes in the two packages were found after 7 d of storage at 10°C. Due to higher water vapor and oxygen permeability, the PLA containers used in this study maintained overall quality of fresh-cut melon better than did the PET containers at 10°C during 10 d of storage. Bio-based PLA is a suitable alternative to petroleum-based PET for storage of fresh-cut melon.