Biodegradable Films Incorporated With Peels of Jatobá ( <i>Hymenaea courbaril</i> L.) and Pomegranate Fruit ( <i>Punica granatum</i> L.) Extracts for Preserving Chicken Breast Fillets

ABSTRACT The use of biodegradable packaging for food preservation is a sustainable alternative for preserving perishable foods such as chicken fillet, which has a short shelf life even under refrigerated conditions. In this context, the present study aimed to develop biodegradable films incorporated with extracts from jatobá and pomegranate fruit peels for the preservation of chicken fillet at 4°C for 21 days. The chicken fillets were wrapped with films containing chitosan (CH) with or without jatobá extract (CHJE) or pomegranate extract (CHPE) and analyzed for weight loss, color, pH, lipid oxidation, and counts of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and molds and yeasts. Weight losses were obtained in fillets with films (41%, 154%, and 181% for samples with CH, CHJE and CHPE films, respectively than without film) than without film (696%). The films promoted a significant reduction in lipid oxidation and microbial degradation on chicken. The counts of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and molds and yeasts were reduced by up to 4.0 and 2.3 log CFU/g, respectively, in chicken with films containing extracts, especially the CHPE film; the shelf life was extended by 17 days compared to chicken without film (4 days). Considering the high perishability of chicken fillet, the results indicate that this environmentally friendly primary packaging can be applied to extend the product's shelf life under refrigerated storage conditions. Furthermore, these films only containing chitosan and low concentrations of jatobá or pomegranate peel extracts considerably extended the refrigerated storage of chicken fillets, when compared to other studies with films containing natural extracts (maximum of 12 days).