Summary Draft 2

According to the journal published by the National Library of Medicine, “Pullulan fiber is a linear polymer that is made up of maltotriose units connected to each other by α-(1,6) glycosidic bonds, which gives pullulan the distinct physical properties to form transparent, strong, low-permeability, and water-soluble films” (Tong, Xiao, Lim, 2013). Pullulan is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be safe as it is derived naturally. The ingredients of pullulan consist of citric acid, thyme oil, and a compound produced bacterially called nisin. In the amount that is used to produce pullulan, the ingredients are deemed generally safe for human consumption.

Compared to traditional plastic food wrappers, pullulan food coating does not contribute to environmental pollution. Since it is bio-degradable, it will dissolve in the soil after just 3 days as compared to normal plastic wrappers, which can take up to 450 years before it starts to break down. This is already a major advantage of the pullulan coating.

The non-toxic property of pullulan also proved to be a boon when compared to traditional plastics. In fact, pullulan fiber is edible. So if someone like a child were to accidentally ingest the food without taking off the wrapper first, there is a risk of choking and poisoning. However, for the non-toxic pullulan coating, there is no wrapper to choke on.

Other than being environmentally friendly and safe for consumption, it is also anti-microbial. The pullulan coating contains 2 known anti-microbial agents, citric acid and thyme oil. This helps to keep the food fresh for longer as it halts the growth of bacteria in the food. 

One caveat to pullulan fiber and the reason why it hasn't replaced traditional plastic wrappers yet is because of its very high cost of production. Pullalan production can cost between 25 and 30 USD/kg (Farris et al, 2014). Traditional plastic wrappers are still cheaper to produce and it is the reason why it's still used to this day worldwide.