Microbial-Mediated Biopolymers (Exopolysaccharide) in Food Packaging: A Current Time Approach in Food Safety
Saikat Mazumder, Debasmita Bhattacharya, Dibyajit Lahiri, Moupriya Nag
ACS Food Science & Technology
Abstract
Secure food delivery is a leading issue in the current time, where more than 50% of food waste is due to poor packaging. Microbial biopolymers (exopolysaccharides) present a strong option as a packaging material owing to their biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and potential application in foodstuff packaging. Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are important biopolymers produced by microorganisms with unique characteristics that make them useful in food packaging. The molecular weight of EPS is usually between 10 and 10,000 kDa. EPS possesses antioxidant, prebiotic, and antibacterial activities, and eco-friendly and nontoxic biopolymers. EPSs produced by Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, and Weissella are characterized by their considerable film-forming and rheologic