Obtaining and Characterisation of Starch-Based Edible Films Incorporating Honey, Propolis and Bee Bread

This research investigates the physical-chemical, sensorial and mechanical characteristics of starch-based edible films incorporating three types of bee hive products: honey, propolis and bee bread, in concentrations varying from 1% to 3%, reported to starch. The results indicates an increasing of films moisture, water activity, ash content and acidity, in the order: honey<propolis<bee bread, all values increasing with the increasing of hive products percentage into the control film; a_w is remaining at very low values, under 0.4. Sensorial analysis indicated honey as the better suited for improving taste and flavour and bee bread for increasing colour intensity of the films; the sensorial characteristics are maintained during 30 days of films storage, in all cases. Compared with the control starch-based film (which is elastic, brittle and hard), the films containing 2% bee hive products are elasto-plastic and more resistant to penetration, the resistance increasing in the order: bee bread<propolis<honey.