Brazilian scientists develop edible packaging materials

Researchers at the University of Campinas, Brazil, are developing a new type of packaging material that not only degrades naturally within 30 days, but is also edible.

According to reports from Brazilian media on the 4th, this packaging material is made from starch extracted from cassava and sugar cane, and added with natural anti-microbial agents such as cloves, cinnamon, and pepper, and is therefore edible. In addition, natural pigments extracted from purple cabbage, grapes and cherries are added to the material. These natural pigments change color when acid is encountered. The food will become sour when it goes bad, so the packaging material can change to pink, light purple and blue depending on the degree of deterioration of the food, reminding consumers not to eat spoiled food.

The researchers said that in addition to being used for food packaging, this material can also be used in many other areas. For example, after the antioxidant is added, the material will display different colors when exposed to heat, so it can be used to make labels and mark whether the nail scissors or dental surgical tools used in the beauty salon have been sterilized at high temperatures to help prevent diseases such as hepatitis.

The researchers said that this new material has been successfully developed in the laboratory and is expected to be launched in the market within two years.

Reprinted from: Xinhuanet