effect of packaging film and moisture absorbent materials on the shelf life of button mushrooms

the present study examined the effect of packaging film on the quantitative and qualitative properties of button mushrooms. the three types of packaging tested were a clear polyvinyl chloride box, polyvinyl chloride stretch film and biaxially-oriented polypropylene film (bopp). the five types of moisture absorbers examined were silica gel (2.5 g, 1.25 g), sodium chloride (2.5 g, 1.25 g), and silica gel (1.25 g) with spongy foam. the storage times tested were 0, 8 and 16 days. the characteristics of weight loss, retention of light coloration, and overall acceptability after storage at 5 ± 2 °c were investigated in a factorial experiment using a randomized complete block design with six replications. the results show that the bopp film produced the least weight loss and the clear polyvinyl chloride box produced the highest weight loss. silica gel (2.5 g) with bopp film had the highest rating for retention of light coloration. polyvinyl chloride stretch film recorded the greatest weight loss and the rating for light coloration.  the combination of silica gel (2.5 g) with bopp film produced the highest overall rating.