Bio-based packaging combined to protective atmosphere to manage shelf life of salami to enhance food safety and product quality

Plastics are currently the most widely used and most suitable packaging material to meet quality and food safety, particularly for meat products, because of their perishable nature. Biopolymers are very interesting from the point of view of sustainability. This study focused on the application of biodegradable packaging (polylactic acid, PLA) for sliced salami in a protective atmosphere, as a potential replacement for the one currently used (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), monitoring the shelf life of the meat product through microbiological, chemical (colorimetric, pH and volatile compound determination) and sensory analysis. The results showed that the PLA-packaged salami maintained the red color throughout the entire shelf life; pH monitoring was essentially constant over time (from 5.63 to 5.70). Only one difference was detected at the end of shelf life regarding the main markers of product alteration (hexanal, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, ethanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol), that were not sensory perceived remaining appreciated by the consumer panel.