Packaging with hydrogen gas modified atmosphere can extend chicken egg storage
Yueqiao Wang, Junjie Wang, Yong Kuang, Wenbiao Shen
Abstract
Abstract BACKGROUND Although hydrogen gas (H 2 ) has been widely used in industry and gradually used in medicine, it is less applied to agriculture, especially in modified atmosphere packing (MAP). RESULTS During chicken egg storage, H 2 MAP not only slowed down or delayed the reduction in antioxidant capacities, but also alleviated the deterioration of egg quality. The extent of micro‐cracks in the eggshell was also negatively influenced by H 2 , which might result in eggs being less vulnerable to microbes. The earlier results demonstrated that the H 2 MAP‐extended shelf life of chicken eggs might be caused by the responses of eggshell and re‐establishment of redox homeostasis. According to the data collected from different provinces of China, cost‐economics analysis further suggested that the increase in the extra cost caused by H 2 was trivial compared with the original price of eggs. CONCLUSION Together, H 2 MAP can prolong the shelf life of chicken eggs with the prospect of wider application. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.