Application of chitosan edible coating containing grape seed extract on the quality and shelf life of refrigerated chicken meat

Meat is prone to both microbial and oxidative spoilage. Therefore, it is desirable to use a preservative with both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Chitosan coating provided a type of active packaging to maintain quality and extend the shelf-life of chicken meat. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of chitosan edible coating (2%) containing grape seed extract (GSE) (0.1%) on the shelf life and keeping quality of chicken breast meat at refrigerated storage temperatures. Samples were separated into three groups; uncoated and without GSE (C), coated with chitosan (CH), and coated with chitosan containing GSE (ICH). Samples were stored at 4C and evaluated periodically for microbiological (aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic counts), chemical (TBA, pH, aw) and sensory (odor, appearance and overall acceptability) characteristics. Microbial analysis indicated that coating had significant effects (P<0.05) in reducing the mesophilic and psychrotrophic counts with at least a 7-day extension of shelf life. The chitosan-coated products showed lower TBA and pH values than the uncoated samples for up to 21 days of storage at 4C. The results indicated that the application of chitosan coating significantly improved (P<0.05) sensory quality of samples. This study thus clearly indicated that the effect of chitosan coating and coating containing GSE on samples was to retain their good quality characteristics and extend the shelf life during refrigerated storage, which was supported by the results of microbiological, chemical, and sensorial properties.