The influence of plastic composition and ventilation area on ozone diffusion through some food packaging materials

Regulatory approval of ozone has increased commercial interest in the development of applications to ensure produce quality and safety. However, ozone sometimes fails to inactivate microorganisms on packaged produce and this may be a consequence of poor diffusion into packages. Gaseous ozone (900 ± 12 μL/L) was applied to several common plastic films with a range of ventilation areas and diffusion through them determined. A semi-quantitative method using the reaction of ozone with indigo trisulfonate or with indigo carmine dye solutions was used. Dye de-colorization occurred relatively rapidly (in less than 1 h) after exposure to ozone, indicating that it diffused through all tested materials. Although the extent of ozone diffusion followed the sequence of high-density polyethylene > polypropylene > low density polyethylene, differences among them were small and not significant (P > 0.05). Ozone diffusion was also determined through a low density polyethylene film with ventilation areas of 1.3, 5.2, and 10.4% created by circular holes 6.5 mm in diameter. Gradual but modest increases in ozone diffusion occurred as the ventilation area increased.

► Ozone gas was able to diffuse through all the tested packaging materials.
► The amounts of ozone that penetrated through HDPE, LDPE, and PP films did not differ significantly.
► Ozone penetration was positively correlated with increased ventilation area.