Shelf‐life characteristics of fresh oysters and ground beef as affected by bacteriocin‐coated plastic packaging film

Abstract Fresh oysters and ground beef were wrapped in antimicrobial films coated with a bacteriocin (nisin or lacticin NK24) incorporated into a polyamide binder layer. The packaged foods were stored at 3 and 10 °C and changes in counts of total aerobic bacteria and coliform bacteria were monitored together with appropriate quality attributes in order to determine the influence of the bacteriocin‐coated films on quality preservation and shelf‐life extension. Compared to plain low‐density polyethylene film, plastic films with incorporated bacteriocins slowed down microbial growth on packaged oysters and ground beef at both temperatures, contributed in some degree to the preservation of chemical quality and extended shelf‐life significantly. The effects of the antimicrobial films on the suppression of coliform bacterial growth were more pronounced at 10 than at 3 °C , while the effects on total aerobic bacteria were consistently evident at both temperatures. There was no difference in food quality preservation between the two types of antimicrobial film. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry