Since the publication of the first edition of this text, ever-increasing coatings research has led to many developments in the field. Updated and completely revised with the latest discoveries, Edible Coatings and Films to Improve Food Quality, Second Edition is a critical resource for all those involved in buying, selling, regulating, developing, or using coatings to improve the quality and safety of foods. Topics discussed in this volume include: The materials used in edible coatings and films The chemical and physical properties of coatings and how the coating or film ingredients affect these properties How coatings and films present barriers to gases and water vapors How coatings and films can improve appearance, or conversely, result in discoloration and cause other visual defects, as well as how to avoid these problems The use of coatings and films on fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh-cut produce, and processed foods How to apply coatings to various commodities How coatings can function as carriers of useful additives, including color, antioxidants, and flavorings Regulation of coatings and coating ingredients by various governing bodies The information contained in this volume is destined to encourage further advances in this field for food and pharmaceutical products. Aggressive research into these products can help to reduce plastic waste, improve applications, lead to greater efficacy, and make regulatory decisions easier in a global climate-ultimately resulting in economical, heightened quality of food and pharmaceutical products.

Since the publication of the first edition of this text, ever-increasing coatings research has led to many developments in the field. Updated and completely revised with the latest discoveries, Edible Coatings and Films to Improve Food Quality, Second Edition is a critical resource for all those involved in buying, selling, regulating, developing, or using coatings to improve the quality and safety of foods. Topics discussed in this volume include: The materials used in edible coatings and films The chemical and physical properties of coatings and how the coating or film ingredients affect these properties How coatings and films present barriers to gases and water vapors How coatings and films can improve appearance, or conversely, result in discoloration and cause other visual defects, as well as how to avoid these problems The use of coatings and films on fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh-cut produce, and processed foods How to apply coatings to various commodities How coatings can function as carriers of useful additives, including color, antioxidants, and flavorings Regulation of coatings and coating ingredients by various governing bodies The information contained in this volume is destined to encourage further advances in this field for food and pharmaceutical products. Aggressive research into these products can help to reduce plastic waste, improve applications, lead to greater efficacy, and make regulatory decisions easier in a global climate-ultimately resulting in economical, heightened quality of food and pharmaceutical products.

This book reviews key advances in preservation techniques for fresh fruit and vegetables. Part 1 summarises developments and improvements in preservation technologies such as cooling, controlled atmosphere storage, modified atmosphere and active packaging as well as barrier coatings. The focus of Part 2 is on post-harvest safety management and disinfection. Chapters cover current research on mechanisms of pathogen contamination of fresh produce, as well as improvements in sanitising regimes and disinfection techniques using heat, irradiation and plasma, ozone and natural antimicrobials. The final part of the book surveys advances in monitoring postharvest quality of fresh produce and smart distribution systems to maintain the quality of horticultural produce.