Optimization of antimicrobial and physical properties of alginate coatings containing carvacrol and methyl cinnamate for strawberry application.

Increasing strawberry consumption has led to a growing safety concern because they are not washed after harvest. An antimicrobial edible coating could be an effective postharvest technique to ensure microbial safety and, at the same time, retain overall quality of the fruits. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Botrytis cinerea and several physical properties (turbidity, viscosity, and whitish index) of an alginate coating.