NEW TRENDS IN FOOD PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY: BIOPOLYMERS BASED MATERIALS ENRICHED WITH STEVIA REBAUDIANA

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is the development of fully biodegradable and edible biopolymer materials used for the packaging of powdered food products. Stevia is a natural sweetener used in the food and beverage industry. The films were obtained through cast method, from agar and sodium alginate, plasticized with glycerol. Stevia was added in proportion of 1,25% of the total ingredients used. The films made with stevia added were fine, soft, transparent, odorless, but sweet, resilient and elastic. Their surface was free of cracks and, where there were pores, they did not pierce the material. Microbiological determinations and the absence of tested microorganisms indicate the safety of consumption of these membranes. The results indicate the possibility of using these materials to the detriment of the synthetic ones, as well as their transposition on an industrial scale.