The high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols in passion fruit peels have a substantial potential to preserve fresh fruits and fresh cuts in an edible food covering, according to research from the University of Johannesburg. A covering like this can lessen plastic packaging and spoilage in supply networks. The researchers extracted, micro-encapsulated, freeze-dried and powdered passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) peels from an organic farm. This variety is known for its medicinal value. Globally, passion fruit is mainly grown for concentrated juice.
Their metabolomic and other analyses in Antioxidants show the powders have the properties needed for a quality, stable, edible food coating. The powders can also be functional ingredients in natural food additives.
When fresh produce is packaged in plastic, the plastic creates a ‘micro-atmosphere’, says Prof Olaniyi Fawole, from the University of Johannesburg. And that puts the brakes on what oxygen can do to the produce.
“Oxygen is the bad guy, it causes a lot of biochemical degradation. So we want to limit the oxygem,” he adds.