Application of functional edible films in ricotta cheese

Abstract

The use of edible film can improve the quality and increase the shelf life of food. The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of films containing acacia gum and different percentages of lactic acid in ricotta cheese. Samples were coated with the film-forming solution (T2 containing 15 mL lactic acid and T3 containing 30 mL lactic acid in the film-forming solution) and uncoated samples (T1 control samples) were stored for 5 days under refrigeration. The water activity (Aw), pH, titratable acidity and counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and fungi were evaluated at 0, 2 and 4 days. There was a significant difference for Aw between the evaluated times (p < 0.05), with higher Aw values at two days of storage. The titratable acidity was significant for treatment (p < 0.05), with treatments T1 and T2 being the most effective and for the time, there was a decrease in values over the evaluated period. The microbiological evaluation of mesophilic aerobes and fungi was significant for the evaluated times (p < 0.05). Therefore, the proposal to develop an edible film resulted in similarity in microbiological efficiency in relation to the control treatment.