Underutilized Fish Meat as a Source of Edible Films and Coatings for the Muscle Food Industry

Abstract

Amajor problem now facing the rapidly expanding packaging industry is the accumulation of non-biodegradable wastes in the form of synthetic packaging materials, and the associated environmental pollution. While efforts such as banning polythene bags or converting wastes into manure are being contemplated in several countries, including India, attention is also being paid to replacing synthetic packaging, as far as possible, with biodegradable and hence environmentally friendly packaging materials. The prospects for biodegradable films are particularly bright in the food industry, which has started to realize that food-grade macromolecules possessing film-forming properties could be used for the development of edible protective films and coatings.