Abstract:
In order to investigate the effect of conventional packaging forms on the freshness of market shell eggs, this research investigated shell egg freshness of Roman pink in paper-based packaging without overlapped eggs arrangement, paper-based packaging with overlapped eggs arrangement, foam-based cushioning packaging, carton-based packaging, plastic-based packaging 5 groups. The shell eggs were stored at 25 ℃ for 30 d, and evaluated weight loss, air space diameter and height, yolk index, Haugh unit, thick-to-thin albumen ratio and albumen pH at 0, 10, 20, 30 d. The results showed that in shell eggs treated with paper-based packaging with overlapped eggs arrangement had significantly (
P<0.05) higher values of weight loss (2.33%~7.35%), air space diameter (2.46~3.17 cm) and albumin pH (9.24~9.28), while obtained significantly (
P<0.05) lower values of thick-to-thin albumen ratio (0.08~0.39) and yolk index (0.27~0.41). The Haugh unit decreased obviously (
P<0.05) in shell eggs treated with carton and plastic-based packaging. Lower values of air space height were obtained in the shell eggs treated with foam-based cushioning packaging and paper-based packaging without overlapped eggs arrangement. Lower weight loss (0.62%~5.46%), air space diameter (2.02~2.62 cm), albumin pH (9.05~9.26) and higher yolk index values (0.27~0.48) were obtained in shell eggs treated with foam-based cushioning packaging. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) could distinguish shell eggs treated with plastic-based packaging, foam-based cushioning packaging and other 3 packaging forms, and the contribution of freshness parameters was quite different between them. The results of this study indicated that the eggs treated with foam-based cushioning packaging could retard freshness deteriorations of shell eggs during storage, applying in shell egg storage and sale chain at the same environmental condition.