Edible Films Based on Fish Gelatin and Soluble Soybean Polysaccharide Enriched with Tea Polyphenol for Active Food Packaging

The increasing demand for environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic packaging has driven interest in the development of biodegradable edible films with functional properties. In this work, edible blend films were developed based on fish gelatin (FG), soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS), and tea polyphenol (TP) for active food packaging applications. The FG/SSPS/TP films were prepared by solvent casting and characterized in terms of their structural, mechanical, optical, thermal, and barrier properties. FTIR, SEM, and XRD analyses revealed TP-induced morphological and structure changes in the biopolymer matrix. The incorporation of TP significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity and UV-shielding properties of the films, while also modifying their flexibility and surface hydrophilicity. The packaging performance of FG/SSPS/TP films was evaluated using beef tallow as a model food product. Compared to neat FG/SSPS and polyethylene films, the FG/SSPS/TP films effectively suppressed lipid oxidation of the samples during storage. The results demonstrated that the prepared FG/SSPS/TP films possess strong potential for use as edible and active packaging materials for food products.