Extension of green bell pepper shelf life using oilseed-derived lipid films from soapstock

Edible films have been used for decades on fresh produce to create a semipermeable membrane on the surface to suppress respiration, control moisture loss, and more recently to provide a delivery mechanism for the inclusion of functional components. Scientists at the Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) have previously demonstrated that a thin biodegradable film can be produced from soapstock, an underused byproduct from the vegetable oil industry. After physical and chemical treatments, a thin film was produced from various soapstocks (cottonseed and safflower). Different hydration ratios were tested since the initial soapstock solutions were rather viscous. To examine the potential use of an oilseed-derived lipid film for the extension of shelf life, different types of the oilseed-derived soapstocks were utilized to produce lipid films with different hydration ratios, and containing 0, 5, and 10% of paraffin wax for application on 'Camelot' bell peppers. Control bell peppers lost almost 25% weight per unit surface area (SA) in 78 h when stored under ambient conditions. Cottonseed film-coated peppers, hydrated at 1:4, lost only about 5% moisture per unit SA after 78 h and minimized weight loss by up to 79% compared to the control. However, since a 1:4 hydration ratio remained rather viscous, 1:8 was preferred and these cottonseed films reduced weight loss per unit SA by up to 48% during storage. Safflower-derived soapstock film resulted in the least effective water retention of the films and ratios tested, with roughly 21-25% reduction in weight loss per SA compared to controls. Safflower-derived soapstock was higher in unsaturated fatty acids, which are less efficient to control moisture migration because they are more polar than saturated lipid materials, as contained in cottonseed-derived materials. Addition of wax to the cottonseed-derived films decreased water loss slightly. similar to previous reports in the literature. An ANOVA supported the conclusion that the oilseed-derived lipid films significantly reduced moisture loss across the produce epidermis. To avoid potential allergenicity concerns in cottonseed soapstock, additional cleanup steps and tests with commonly used edible coating additives would be required before attaining food grade status. Published by Elsevier B.V.