Chitosan is a cationic biopolymer, which shows antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and can be
used as a matrix to develop edible films with different food applications [1]. Chitosan-based films tend to
be brittle and show high water vapour permeability. The incorporation of lipid compounds, such as
sunflower oil could improve mechanical and barrier properties of chitosan films to adapt them to a
specific target application [2]. Meat products are very prone to microbial contamination that occurs
mainly at the surface. The use of biodegradable films containing antimicrobial agents could be an
alternative to extend meat shelf-life, by maintaining high concentrations of antibacterial ingredients that
can also be extended throughout transport and storage period.
The aim of this work is to assess the feasibility of using chitosan-sunflower oil edible films to extend
the shelf-life of cold-stored pork meat hamburgers.
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