Effect of Chitosan-based Edible Films on the Sensory and Microbial Quality of Ready-to-Eat Paneer during Storage

Aims: The aim of the study is to find the effect of chitosan-based edible films on the sensory and microbiological characteristics of ready-to-eat paneer during storage at ambient and refrigeration temperature. Study Design: This study was experimental and conducted in a lab. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Dairy Technology, Dairy Science College, Hebbal, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, between October 2022 and July 2023. Methodology: The ready to eat paneer prepared with 5 % fructooligosaccharides, 40 % sugar and 15 % orange juice will be aseptically wrapped with chitosan based edible film made of 1.5% chitosan and 0.75% glycerol. The product will be analysed at both ambient temperature (27±1°C) with 1days interval and refrigeration temperature (4±1°C) with 3 days interval. Sensory analysis by 9-point hedonic scale and microbial analysis of standard plate count, coliforms count, yeast and mold count were assessed. ANOVA was the method used for statistical analysis, and the significance between the control and sample was assessed using a critical difference (CD) at a 5% significance level. Results: The sensory attributes ratings of the control paneer and edible chitosan film packed ready to eat paneer samples are non-significant (P>0.05) to each other and decreased consistently throughout storage at both conditions. Throughout storage, the coliform count was undetectable. The initial yeast and mold count of the chitosan film-packed ready-to-eat paneer was 0.48 log₁₀ cfu/g, and the standard plate count was 2.30 log₁₀ cfu/g. Both counts increased during storage but remained significantly (P<0.05) lower than those in the control paneer. Conclusion: The storage studies revealed that control paneer can be stored for 1 days at ambient temperature and 6 days at refrigeration temperature without any spoilage and chitosan film packed ready to eat paneer can be stored for 2 days at ambient temperature and 9 days at refrigeration temperature without any spoilage.