An updated review of influences of active packaging on texture profiles of aquatic products: Maintenance behaviors, mechanisms, synergistic strategies and future challenges

Background

Nowadays, rising requirements on food quality and security have facilitated development of active packaging, which are widely applied in the preservation of aquatic products. Most studies focus on their preservation behaviors on basic biochemical parameters, ignoring their performances on other quality indicators. Considering texture is an important parameter for quality evaluation, thorough insights into impacts of active packaging on texture profiles of aquatic products are provided in current review.

Scope and approach

The maintenance behaviors of active packaging on texture of aquatic products were systemically summarized. Deeper maintenance mechanisms in terms of biochemical reactions, protein integrity and water dynamic were proposed subsequently. Meanwhile, synergistic strategies which could be combined with active packaging to further modify texture profiles were explored. Finally, facing challenges and future prospects regarding studies field of active packaging on texture maintenance were discussed.

Key findings and conclusions

Most part of active packaging have been proved their potent potentials in texture maintenance of aquatic products, and those positive impacts depended on kinds of packaging components, concentrations of active substances and physical properties of active packaging. Underlying mechanisms of active packaging on texture maintenance could be proposed from following perspectives: inhibiting biochemical reactions, keeping protein integrity and water dynamic. Additionally, combination with synergistic strategies including other packaging materials and physical processing technologies could further modify texture characteristics. Nevertheless, in-depth studies focusing on the development of controllable-release active packaging, designing of modular active packaging and investigation of deeper underlying texture modification mechanisms of active packaging are critically needed.