VATIS UPDATE Article

Researchers from Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) have created a nano coating which makes it possible to safely store eggs without refrigeration. The coating not only makes the eggs easier to transport but also extends their shelf-life, thus eliminating the need to refrigerate them. The concept of coating perishable foods is not new. Producers have long been coating apples and citrus with wax to protect them from bruising and make them more visually appealing to consumers. The trick is to find the right material for coating. Researchers have been experimenting with different kinds of nano-structured coatings.

The resulting choice is a biodegradable polymer frequently used in pharmaceuticals and the food industry. During testing, the coated eggs were in better condition after been stored one month at room temperature than their uncoated counterparts. This is a result of the coating’s ability to limit the water loss of the egg and to reduce the amount of outside gasses entering through the porous shell, which compromise the egg’s quality. The coated eggs also fared much better than their counterparts in the shell strength tests, experiencing less cracks and keeping the internal structure of the egg intact