Modified Atmosphere Storage of Shredded Cabbage Packed with Differently Permeable Plastic Films

Abstract

In order to evaluate the validity of the differently permeable films which are called “kinosei films” including LDPE films (40-47μm) containing porous powders of minerals (zeolite, Ag⁺ absorbed zeolite, cristobalite), ceramics and cyclodextrin, for packaging shredded vegetables, permeability of the films, changes in gaseous concentration in the bags packed with different films and microbial growth in the shredded cabbage in the bags were investigated in comparison with ordinary LDPE film (40μm) and EVA film (30μm) during storage at 20°C. (1) The highest permeability of CO₂ and C₂H₄ was found in the EVA film and the lowest permeability was found in the ordinary LDPE film and LDPE film containing Ag⁺ absorbed zeolite among the used films in this experiment. The gaseous permeability of “kinosei film” was found to be higher than that of ordinary LDPE film. (2) There was a relatively close relation between the concentration of CO₂ and C₂H₄ in the bags in which shredded cabbage (2×2cm, 30pieces) was packed with different films and the permeability of CO₂ and C₂H₄ of the films. No specific property to absorb C₂H₄ was found in the “kinosei films”. (3) There was significant difference at 5% level in the microbial counts between shredded cabbage packed with antimicrobial films and with ordinary film. However, this inhibition of microbial growth seemed to be not enough to affect keeping quality of shredded cabbage.