Fresh beef loin was packaged with 0-2% silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) incorporated agar films to investigate the effect of antimicrobial packaging on meat quality changes in terms of microbiological and physicochemical properties. Raw beef cuts were directly inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 and stored in the air-sealed packages combined with the agar films at 5 °C for 15 days. Beef samples showed low susceptibility to the agar/AgNP composite films, resulting in about one log reduction of the inoculated pathogenic bacteria in viable cell count during storage. However, the composite films could partly prevent beef samples from directly contacting oxygen, maintaining the meat color and retarding oxidative rancidity. Experimental results suggested that the AgNP-incorporated agar films can potentially be applied in packaged raw meats as an active food packaging material to inhibit microbial and physicochemical quality deterioration during distribution and sale.
Keywords: active packaging; agar; beef loin; composite film; silver nanoparticles.