Summary Reader Response Final Draft

Most of the packaging used in the modern world does an excellent job of preserving the cleanliness of our food which prevents food-related illnesses. However, this comes at the cost of a large amount of plastic being thrust into our environment. In the packaging industry, 50% of the plastics produced from fossil fuels are used for food packaging (Ncube et al.,2020). The article “Spray-on, Rinse Off Food ‘Wrapper’, Can Cut Plastic Packaging”, written by (Jones, 2022), introduces a revolutionary solution capable of food preservation whilst being environmentally friendly: a biodegradable fibre, pullulan, is applied through “focused rotary jet spinning” (FRJS) and is spun around the food, functioning as a wrapper which can be easily washed off upon consumption. These fine fibres have been “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are “laced with naturally occurring antimicrobial ingredients—thyme oil, citric acid and nisin” (MacPherson, 2022), which help keep the food from spoiling through preventing bacteria growth. After the wrapper has been applied, the contents of its packaging will be kept fresh for an extended period of time while reducing the likelihood of decomposition. Therefore, replacing the typical plastic packaging that is widely used today with this new "Spray-on" wrapper may be the key to making food packaging safe for consumption whilst being eco-friendly.

 

The “Spray-on” wrapper is able to greatly reduce the amount of plastic produced and released into the environment as it is composed of mainly organic matter. With biodegradation being one its features, it is much more eco-friendly as it will not leave behind any waste post-decay. The majority of the packaging used in today’s world is mainly plastic, due to it being an “inexpensive, lightweight, strong, durable and corrosion-resistant material” (Thompson et al.,2009). However, the detrimental effect that plastic has on the environment is severe, with its production being one of the main causes of global warming. Another consequence of plastic in the environment is the harm inflicted upon wildlife, which causes the endangerment of certain species. Invertebrates, turtles, fish, seabirds and mammals are part of over 260 species that have been reported to ingest or get stuck in plastic debris, which results in restricted movement and feeding, complications in mating capability, a variety of physical wounds and death (Thompson et al.,2009). Using the biodegradable pullulan wrapper would therefore eliminate the consequences of pollution caused by plastic food packaging, minimize the negative impact of global warming, and diminish the endangerment to wildlife.

 

One of the main features of food packaging is to keep food clean, fresh and safe for consumption as it helps prevent people from getting sick and reduces food waste. Food packaging should be able to prevent product decay, retain the “beneficial effects of processing, extend shelf-life, and maintain or increase the quality and safety of food.” (Marsh and Bugusu, 2007) The fact that the “Spray-on” wrapper is able to fulfill this key aspect is one of its main advantages. An experiment for the wrapper that was conducted on avocados which are known for ripening unevenly and decaying postharvest (Jones, 2022), found that the pullulan fibre protected the fruit when exposed to common food-related bacteria, reducing the likelihood of decay and bacterial growth, as well as browning caused by oxidation. These findings point towards extended shelf life and preserved optimal quality of fruits should the “Spray-on” wrapper be used for food packaging. 

 

Although this new innovative technology has great potential in reducing both plastic production and food wastage whilst being GRAS, it is important to note that researchers are still experimenting to ensure that there aren’t any harmful by-products. Ultimately, what is most important is still the safety of the consumer above anything else. An environmental toxicologist at Duke University, Nishad Jayasundara, stated that although pullulan is generally recognised as safe, several tests should be conducted to ensure its safety to human health (Jones, 2022). Furthermore, the pullulan wrapper’s feature of being easily washed off may compromise the integrity of the wrapper when exposed to moisture unintentionally. This could lead to its contents being exposed to the environment and getting contaminated, potentially bringing the risk of foodborne disease, and risking public health safety. Another important factor to take note of is that pullulan is expensive, due to the cost of raw materials for its production being very high (Mishra, 2017). While this new pullulan wrapper does bring many benefits and advantages to the table, it would be very costly to produce and replace plastic packaging, which is considered to be the cheapest of all production materials.

 

In conclusion, the pullulan fibre wrapper offers several benefits over the common plastic packaging such as being eco-friendly and having microbial properties, while also bringing innovative solutions to the drawbacks of plastic. It is able to largely minimize food wastage and the pollution caused from plastic production while still being able to preserve the quality of food.  However, with more tests on the safety of pullulan needing to be conducted and its high production costs, the “Spray-on” wrapper is not quite ready to be a replacement for plastic packaging. Ensuring that the product is completely safe for human health to begin with is a factor that must be considered. Otherwise, there may be serious repercussions that may be too late to reverse once the pullulan fibre wrapper is distributed and used widely across the world.

 

References

Jones, S. (2022). Spray-On, Rinse-Off Food ‘Wrapper’ Can Cut Plastic Packaging. Scientific American.

Kenneth Marsh, B. B. (2007). Food Packaging—Roles, Materials, and Environmental Issues. Journal of Food Science.

Lindani Koketso Ncube, A. U. (2020). Environmental Impact of Food Packaging Materials: A Review of Contemporary Development from Conventional Plastics to Polylactic Acid Based Materials. MDPI.

MacPherson, K. (2022). Rutgers Scientist Develops Antimicrobial, Plant-Based Food Wrap Designed to Replace Plastic . rutgers today.

Mishra, B. (2017). Major Problems Addressed in Pullulan. India: Juniper Publishers.

Richard C. Thompson, C. J. (2009). Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends. National Library of Medicine.