Active packaging plays a promising approach to extend the shelf-life of packed fresh mushrooms without
compromising the fresh status. Four different active agents were incorporated into the packaging
material to extend the shelf-life of packed mushrooms: sodium metabisulphite combined with citric
acid; green tea extract; cinnamon essential oil and purple carrot extract. The sulphur dioxide-based
packaging maintained the mushrooms white and appealing to consumers for a longer time than
conventional packaging. The release of sulphur dioxide was carefully adjusted to avoid undesirable
yellowing while keeping the whitening effect. Sulphur dioxide was determined in the mushrooms after
the storage period, being the resulting concentration below the current limit of 10 mg/g. Green tea extract
at high concentration maintained white colour of mushrooms longer than blank samples. Cinnamon
essential oil and purple carrot extracts did not show enough antioxidant properties to inhibit the
spoilage of mushrooms and/or extending their shelf-life.