An all-natural sustainable packaging strategy driven by hydrogen bond self-assembly for the fresh-cut apple and perishable grape preservation

Developing eco-friendly and convenient edible coatings represents a sustainable strategy that drives innovation in food packaging. Inspired by the intermolecular hydrogen-bonded self-assembly between food-derived konjac polysaccharide (KGM) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an all-natural sprayable coating was creatively designed. The KGM-EGCG (KE) bioactive coating exhibited excellent fluidity and viscosity, significantly enhancing its adhesion to target foods. Notably, the 2KE coating (EGCG concentration: 2 mg/mL) demonstrated remarkable antioxidant and antibacterial properties, effectively inhibiting the growth of typical foodborne pathogens S. aureus and E. coli , with inhibition rates of 92.95 % and 88.56 %. When applied to fresh-cut apples and commercially available grapes, the 2KE coating effectively delayed enzymatic browning and water-loss wrinkling during a seven-day storage period while preserving sensory qualities (including desirable color, sugar content, and acidity). As a sprayable preservative, the minimalist synthesis process of 2KE revolutionized the preservation of perishable fruits at room temperature, facilitating the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.