<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<article article-type="research-article" xml:lang="en" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">global-journal-of-science-frontier-research-i-interdisciplinary</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>Global Journal of Science Frontier Research - I: Interdisciplinary</journal-title>
</journal-title-group>
<issn publication-format="print">0975-5896</issn>
<issn publication-format="electronic">2249-4626</issn>
<publisher><publisher-name>Global Journals Publishing Group Incorporated</publisher-name></publisher>
<self-uri xlink:href="https://globaljournals.org/journal-seo-export/jats/259157.xml" />
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.34257/GJSFRI259157</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">259157</article-id>
<title-group>
<article-title>Fresh-Cut Broccoli Packaging Strategies to Reduce Food Waste: The Role of Plastics and Microperforation</article-title>
<subtitle>Broccoli packaging microperforation effect</subtitle>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author"><name><surname>Fernández-León</surname><given-names>María</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1" />
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author"><name><surname>Fernández-León</surname><given-names>Ana María</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2" />
</contrib>
</contrib-group>
<aff id="aff1">Departmental Section of Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain</aff>
<aff id="aff2">Department of Postharvest, Plant, Value Enhancement and Emerging Technologies, Agrifood Technology Institute of Extremadura (INTAEX), Centre for Scientific and Technological Research of Extremadura (CICYTEX), Avda. Adolfo Suárez S/N, 06007 Badajoz, Spain</aff>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="pub" iso-8601-date="2026-07-29">
<day>29</day>
<month>07</month>
<year>2026</year>
</pub-date>
<volume>26</volume>
<abstract><p>Food waste is a major sustainability challenge, particularly for highly perishable vegetables such as broccoli, where quality deterioration contributes significantly to losses throughout the supply chain. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different packaging materials and microperforation strategies for preserving the quality of fresh-cut broccoli during refrigerated storage. Broccoli florets were packaged in conventional petroleum-based plastics and in biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), each tested with and without microperforations, and stored at 3 °C for 20 days. Internal gas composition, fermentation risk, weight loss, odour, and overall appearance were monitored throughout storage. Non-microperforated OPP and PLA generated highly restrictive atmospheres characterized by very low O₂ and elevated CO₂ concentrations, increasing fermentation risk and accelerating sensory deterioration. In contrast, microperforated treatments maintained more favourable gas compositions, reduced fermentation risk, and better preserved odour and visual quality, although they resulted in greater weight loss. Principal component analysis confirmed that microperforation was the main factor influencing package atmosphere and quality preservation, exceeding the effect of polymer type. Among the tested systems, microperforated PLA provided the best balance between respiratory conditions and sensory quality. These findings demonstrate that microperforated biodegradable PLA packaging represents a promising strategy to maintain fresh-cut broccoli quality while supporting more sustainable packaging solutions and contributing to food waste reduction.</p></abstract>
<kwd-group kwd-group-type="author-generated">
<kwd>biodegradable packaging</kwd>
<kwd>postharvest quality</kwd>
<kwd>shelf life.</kwd>
</kwd-group>
<self-uri content-type="pdf" xlink:href="https://globaljournals.org:/GJSFR_Volume26/fresh-cut-broccoli-packaging-strategies-to-reduce-food-waste-2b944f3836.pdf?v=1784013465872#" />
<self-uri content-type="html" xlink:href="https://globaljournals.org/scholarly-articles/manuscript-by-prof-dr-maria-fernanda-fernandez-leon/" />
</article-meta>
</front>
<body>
<sec>
<title>Full Text</title>
<p></p>
</sec>
</body>
</article>