THE Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) research team has successfully developed food packaging materials that can be eaten together with the food they contain.

Siah Watt Moey, a research officer from the Mardi food science technology research centre, said the research project started back in 2012 with her team, which comprises herself, fellow research officer Zainah Adzaly, and three assistants.

She said after a year of working on the project, the team managed to produce edible film for food packaging that was environment friendly.

“We have developed a few type of materials from different raw materials such as seaweed, tapioca starch, sago, chitosan, and rice which can be used as alternatives to conventional plastic,” she told reporters in George Town, Penang today.

She said these materials could be eaten together with the food they contain, and if not consumed or simply thrown away, they would dissolve completely in hot water.

“Compared to conventional plastic which takes hundred of years to degrade, these materials dissolve completely in hot water in less than a minute,” she said.

She said her team has developed materials that can be used for sachets for instant coffee or tea, seasoning powder for instant noodles, candy, and breakfast cereals.

However, Siah said the materials could be further improved with colour or flavour, or additional nutrients for added value.

She said the materials were currently only produced in the laboratory for internal use.

“We would like to invite the industry, especially those in the plastic packaging business, to collaborate with us so that the materials can be produced on a commercial scale,” she said. – Bernama, February 23, 2019.