Shelf-life Prediction of Soneca Using Accelerated Shelf-life Tests Approach to Critical Water Levels

Abstract

Shelf life is information that must be included in food product packaging. Estimated shelf life of food products can be done conventionally (Extended Storage Studies) and acceleration (Accelerate Shelflife Testing). Estimation of shelf life by ASLT can be done using the critical moisture content approach, especially for products easily damaged by water absorption. The purpose of this study was to determine the shelf life of Soneca biscuits packaged using three different packages, namely Polypropylene (pp) plastic packaging, Metalized Plastic, and Aluminum foil. The method of determining the shelf life used in this study uses the ASLT method with a critical moisture content approach. Based on the research, it is known that the critical moisture content of biscuits is obtained when the product moisture content reaches 0.0812 (g H2O/g). The isothermic sorption curve of the biscuits obtained can be appropriately expressed using the Hasley model equation. Estimation of shelf life was carried out under storage conditions at 30 ^oC and 75% RH. The study results show that the predicted shelf life of biscuits with metalized plastic VM-PET packaging is 17.76 months, with aluminum foil packaging is 19.85 months and using PP plastic packaging is 1.72 months. Therefore, it is known that the best shelf life is the use of aluminum foil packaging.