Chitosan, a sustainable alternative for food packaging

Abstract

Edible films and coatings are made from natural and edible biopolymers, such as lipids, polysaccharides, and proteins. After cellulose, chitin is one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature, from which chitosan is obtained by a deacetylation process, which consists in the elimination of acetyl groups (-CO-CH3), generally by treatments with hydroxides at high temperatures, and the formation of amino groups (NH2). Chitosan is highly biodegradable and has film-forming properties, so in recent years it has been widely used in the development of edible films and coatings, which represents a significant reduction in environmental pollution. Its use and application have focused mainly on highly perishable, minimally processed, foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. The latest developments involve the addition of natural products that give them a polyfunctional character, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and even that improve their organoleptic and nutritional quality.

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