September 28, 2005 – Spanish researchers have just filed a patent for the use of aloe gel as an edible coating to prolong the shelf life of grapes.
The results of a study1 which will be the subject of a future publication in the Journal of Agricultural and Food indicate that grapes coated with aloe gel keep longer, look better, and retain their flavor better than untreated grapes.
Without protection, the grapes can hardly be kept for more than a week while coated with aloe vera gel, they can still be marketed after 35 days of cold storage, depending on the results obtained. The thin film of aloe vera gel forms a barrier that prevents dehydration of the fruits and their oxidation in contact with ambient oxygen.
Aloe vera gel is also believed to contain substances that can inhibit the formation of fungus and bacteria that attack grapes after harvest, including Botrytis cinerea, the main cause of mold in these fruits.
This would be the first time that aloe vera gel has been used as an edible coating, according to the study’s authors. This new process would provide an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic preservatives, such as sulfur dioxide (sulfur dioxide), commonly used to combat mold in grapes. In addition to being colorless, odorless and tasteless, aloe gel is perfectly edible and biodegradable.
There are other edible coatings, in particular based on proteins, lipids or cellulose. But none had been shown to be as effective as aloe gel in improving the preservation of table grapes, say the Spanish researchers.
According to them, the process could appear on the market within a year, since aloe gel is already authorized as a food additive, especially in drinks and ice cream. Aloe gel coating could prove useful for preserving other fresh fruits and vegetables.
Note that Spain is both a major producer of grapes and aloes. The development of the process has received grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the European Commission for Regional Development.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to Foodnavigator-USA, MedicalNewsToday and United Press International.
1. Valverde JM, Valero D, Martiänez-Romero D, Guilleän FN, Castillo S, Serrano M. Novel edible coating based on aloe vera gel to maintain table grape quality and safety. J. Agric. Food Chem., Publication scheduled for October 5, 2005. http://pubs.acs.org
