New Eco-Friendly Biofilm Protects Food from Microbes

Scientists from Singapore have created a revolutionary biodegradable film for food packaging that not only fights against bacteria but also signals the freshness of the product. The team, led by Professor William Chen from Nanyang Technological University, developed the film from environmentally friendly materials: starch derived from used durian and jackfruit seeds.

The film contains antibacterial components such as catechin and chlorogenic acid, as well as perseaquinone, which changes the color of the film depending on the freshness of the product. This allows the film to be used as an indicator of freshness, warning of spoilage long before it becomes noticeable.

Tests on raw shrimp showed that the film changed color from yellow to brown two days before signs of spoilage appeared, giving consumers additional time to take action. The new packaging can become an effective tool for reducing food waste, preventing premature spoilage of products. Scientists are working on scaling up the production of the film, which opens the door to its widespread adoption in the food industry.