Summary Reader Response Draft 1

The article ”Spray-On, Rinse-Off Food ‘Wrapper’ Can Cut Plastic Packaging”, (Jones, 2022) introduced a new kind of wrapper that can be sprayed on produce such as fruits and vegetables. Food packaging is important in preserving and distributing many kinds of foods but it also produces plastic waste which threatens wildlife and contaminates our drinking water (Jones, 2022). Jones also mentioned that the wrapper can be easily removed by rinsing it with just water (Jones, 2022). Because of this ability to dissolve in water, the packaging has little to no need to be recycled. This amazing new coating is made from an edible fiber called pullulan which uses naturally derived antimicrobial agents, citric acid, and thyme oil as well as a bacterially produced compound called nisin (Jones, 2022). Jones stated that all of the ingredients are deemed fit for human consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration based on the number of ingredients they contain (Jones, 2022). Not only is the pullulan fiber coating non-toxic and safe to eat, but it also has anti-microbial properties which help kill disease-causing microbes from getting into the food. With these impressive advantages, the pullulan fiber coating should replace traditional plastic wrappers as it is more sustainable, anti-microbial, and safer for consumers.

An advantage that the pullulan fiber coating has over traditional plastic wrappers is that it does not contribute to environmental pollution. According to the webpage by FoodPrint, after a plastic wrapper is used and discarded it usually either becomes part of a landfill or gets carried along by wind and water currents into the environment (FoodPrint, 2020). The webpage by Chariot Energy mentions that normal plastic wrappers can take anywhere between 20 to 500 years to break down (Chariot Energy, 2021). If left unchecked, plastic pollution would just keep on piling up until environmental preservation efforts are forced to be employed, which can cost a lot of manpower and money. The bio-degradable pullulan fiber coating on the other hand would simply dissolve into the soil after around 3 days (Jones, 2022). This means that even if the coated food is discarded improperly, the coating would just break down on its own and the food would just rot, saving time and manpower on environmental preservation efforts. This ability to dissolve after around 3 days is what makes it sustainable and environmentally friendly as compared to traditional plastic wrappers.

Another advantage the pullulan fiber coating has over traditional plastic wrappers is that it is non-toxic. A study by Harvard Health Publishing says that some chemicals can seep out of plastic and into food and beverages. A few of these chemicals can cause health problems like metabolic disorders and decreased fertility (Harvard Health Publishing, 2019). Pullulan fiber coating on the other hand is non-toxic because of its naturally derived ingredients. As an added bonus, pullulan fiber is edible. If someone like a child were to accidentally ingest the food without taking off its wrapper first, there is a risk of choking and poisoning. However, for the non-toxic pullulan coating, there is no wrapper to choke on. The non-toxic property of the pullulan fiber coating puts it ahead of traditional plastic in terms of consumer safety. Additionally, the pullulan fiber coating is also anti-microbial, which helps to fight against foodborne illnesses. 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 stops the growth of bacteria in the food. In the journal published by the National Library of Medicine, they said that there are some microbes strong enough to survive on plastic packaging for an extended period of time (Siroli et al., 2017). This antimicrobial property of the pullulan fiber coating is essential for fighting off foodborne illnesses.

As great as pullulan fiber coating can be, it is not without its flaws. The biggest problem with the pullulan fiber coating right now is its very high cost of production, and it is the reason why it hasn't replaced traditional plastic wrappers yet. Pullalan production can cost between 25 and 30 USD/kg, which already costs more than most biopolymers available on the market. (Farris et al., 2014). Traditional plastic wrappers are still way cheaper to produce and it is the reason why it's still used to this day worldwide.

In conclusion, the advantages of the pullulan fiber coating put it ahead of traditional plastic wrappers. Pullulan fiber coating has got what it takes to tackle sustainability and disease-causing micro-organisms, whilst keeping consumer safety in mind. However, due to its relatively high cost of production, we don’t expect to see it replace traditional plastic wrappers anytime soon.

References:

Jones, S. (2022, June 24). Spray-on, rinse-off food 'wrapper' can cut plastic packaging. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spray-on-rinse-off-food-lsquo-wrapper-rsquo-can-cut-plastic-packaging/

Rai, M., Wypij, M., Ingle, A. P., Trzcińska-Wencel, J., & Golińska, P. (2021, December 18). Emerging trends in Pullulan-based antimicrobial systems for various applications. International journal of molecular sciences.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8704206/

How long does it take for plastic to decompose? Chariot Energy. (2022, October 20). https://chariotenergy.com/blog/how-long-until-plastic-decomposes/

The environmental impact of Food Packaging. FoodPrint. (2020, November 13). https://foodprint.org/issues/the-environmental-impact-of-food-packaging/

Is plastic a threat to your health? Harvard Health. (2019, December 1). https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/is-plastic-a-threat-to-your-health

Siroli, L., Patrignani, F., Serrazanetti, D. I., Chiavari, C., Benevelli, M., Grazia, L., & Lanciotti, R. (2017, December 22). Survival of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms on cardboard and plastic packaging materials. Frontiers in microbiology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5743701/

Farris, S., Uysal, U., Introzzi, L., Fuentes-Alventosa, J., Cozzolino, C., (22 February 2014) Pullulan‐based films and coatings for food ... - wiley online library. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/app.40539