The use of cardboard trays with smart active internal lining for enhancing the shelf life and safety of fresh tomatoes

The aim of the present study was to advance in the development of active packaging systems, based on cardboard trays with smart active internal lining (with antimicrobial properties which are function on fruit ripening state, and respiratory activity), and flow-pack (using bio-polymer film with characteristics of ethylene adsorption), for enhancing the shelf life and safety of fresh tomatoes. It has been shown that the combined use of the cited active tray and flow-pack with bio-polymer film results an excellent solution to inhibit total mesophilic aerobic microorganisms growth and control the senescence. After 15 days of storage at 4°C and 80% RH, the microbial load of tomatoes was reduced in 1.5 log CFU/g, comparing to control sample. In addition, the texture and sensory characteristics of tomatoes were kept at adequate levels after 23 days of refrigerated storage.