FOOD SAFETY AND CONSERVATION

The topic of environmental sustainability is a central aspect in the policies of the European Union and the most industrialized countries. The packaging sector is moving towards research lines aimed at minimizing the environmental impact and at the same time making the conservation of both fresh and processed foods more efficient.

The research activity carried out in this laboratory aims to evaluate new, emerging and (re)emerging risks in the food system, to develop strategies to guarantee the healthiness of foods, also in function of new sustainable technologies, and to understand the applicability and safe use of new foods. In particular, the processes of transformation and conservation of foods (conventional, reformulated and transformed products) are studied.

Foods are selected based on their importance in the national market and their content of bioactive compounds.

Innovative processes that allow the extension of the shelf-life of food products are investigated also through the use of biopolymers (edible films and edible coatings) capable of maintaining the quality of food with high safety standards.

The ability of the selected materials to preserve the quality of the food is determined by thermal analysis (DSC), FT-IR spectrometry, analysis of gases inside the packaging (measurement of CO2, O2, ethylene by gas analyzer and by gas chromatography).

The quality and nutritional-nutraceutical value of fresh and processed foods are evaluated in terms of chemical-physical properties (such as texture, color, pH, acidity), nutritional (bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity), sensorial (flavour) and microbiological safety.

Furthermore, the effect of antimicrobial substances incorporated into innovative packaging systems to delay or prevent microbial growth and/or contamination during product storage is studied.

Scientific Director - Prof.ssa Paola Russo (paola.russo@uniroma1.it)

Researcher - Dott.ssa Giuseppina Adiletta (giuseppina.adiletta@uniroma1.it)

Research Fellow - Dott. Luca Masiello (luca.masiello@uniroma1.it)