Purpose: The objective of this research was to introduce a new packaging for food.
Methods: This study was undertaken to investigate the ability of different kinds of nanocomposite films made of cloisite-30B with different percentages of silver and copper oxide nanoparticles incorporated into a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) polymeric matrix by a melt mixing method, in order to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in soy burger.
Results: The number of surviving cell of the total count was decreased by 3.61 log and mold and yeast diminished by 2.01 log after eight weeks storage at 18±0.5°C below zero. Pure LDPE did not have an antimicrobial effect. A composition of 1.3% cloisite 30B-Ag and 2.7% cloisite 30B-CuO for total count and 0% cloisite 30B-Ag and 4% cloisite 30B-CuO for yeast and mold gave optimum points in the combined design test in Design Expert 7.1.5. Suitable microbial models were suggested for retarding the above microorganisms growth in soy burger. To validate the optimum point, the difference between the optimum point of nanocomposite film and its repeat was shown to be not significant (P<0.05) by one-way ANOVA analysis using SPSS 17.0 software; the difference was significant for pure film. Migration of metallic nanoparticles into a food stimulant was within the accepted safe level.
Significance: The results for this packaging, as analyzed by microbial models, showed that the film could be applied to soy burger and similar products to decrease contamination.