Coating of Fruits and Vegetables based on Natural Sources: An Alternative to Synthetic Coating

In recent past years, a lot of research work has been done to develop innovative films and coatings for packaging of fruits and vegetables which improve their qualitative parameters during storage. Recently, researchers are focusing to design films and coatings based on biodegradable materials which would serve as covering to the food and reduce the hazards caused by use of plastics and by degrading biologically. The objectives behind the preparation of packaging such films and coatings is to reduce the loss of moisture, migration of gases and to extend the shelf life of the fruits and vegetables. This paper not only reviews introduction and need of coating but also provide the knowledge about types of coating on different fruits and vegetables. The main focus on the review is on the coating of fruits and vegetables based on natural sources.