An increase in the MA concentration from 0.375 wt% to 0.75 wt% resulted in a higher WVP (i.e., from 1.6 × 10−5 g/m Pa day to 3.8 × 10−5 g/m Pa day, respectively). The fresh pasta samples stored at 10 °C tested negative for coliforms, indicating no faecal contamination and good Lumacaftor chemical structure manufacturing practices. Samples packaged with the CF film had an increase (3 log cycles) in yeast and mould counts from the 2nd to the

43rd day of storage (Fig. 3). The samples packaged with the FS1.5 and FS3.0 films had an increase of 2 and 1 log cycles, respectively. The yeast and mould counts of the samples packaged with the FS4.5 film remained constant during storage, unlike those packaged with the other films. The higher the sorbate amount incorporated in the films, the lower the yeast and mould growth. After 43 days of storage, all the samples had visible microorganism colonies. Silveira et al. (2007) studied pasta dough RG7422 packaged in active films, which were either 70 μm thick and contained 3% of sorbic acid or 25 μm thick with 7% of sorbic acid. In both cases the yeast and mould count after 40 days did not exceed 2.8 log CFU/g.

Kechichian et al. (2010) evaluated the number of viable colonies of molds and yeasts in the pan bread slices stored without and with the presence of biodegradable films with addition of natural antimicrobial ingredients: cinnamon powder and clove powder, in different amounts. After seven days of storage, the colonies visually present on the pan bread slices surface increase considerably. In general, the counts obtained for the samples of pan bread stored with a biodegradable film were similar than stored without film, which indicate that the antimicrobial effect was not observed. The water activity (Aw) of the fresh

pasta was high and varied from 0.93 to 0.97 (Table 3). This obtained Aw allows bacterial and fungal growth, and thus a microbiological control by active packaging is a good option. The Aw of all fresh pasta decreased approximately 0.04 after 30 days of storage, most likely due to a reduction (4.6%) in moisture content as a result of water evaporation. At the end of the experiment, the lightness (L*) of the fresh pasta packaged with the FS4.5 film was higher Telomerase than that packaged with the CF film (Table 4), possibly due to the sorbate that prevents a darkening of the product. The parameter a* increased by 21% in the pasta packaged in the FS1.5 film over the 40-day storage period; the parameter b* decreased in the pasta package in the CF, FS3.0 and FS4.5 films by 22%, 24% and 11%, respectively. During storage, the pasta samples had a bluish and reddish hue. In general, the overall colour difference (ΔE) of the samples increased throughout the storage period; the pasta packaged in the FS1.5 film had the lowest ΔE after 40 days of storage at 10 °C.