Quality maintenance performance and resistance to Tribolium castaneum and Plodia interpunctella penetration of an alternative packaging material for semolina

Insect attacks to food packages are a major concern for food producers, who are often blamed for being responsible for the occurrence of contamination which seriously affects the image of the company. Wheat semolina is commonly packed in paper bags, which do not always offer sufficient protection against insect pests. The present research evaluated the performance of a new packaging alternative, consisting of paper laminated with polypropylene (P+CPP), in terms of resistance to penetration by two common cereal product pests, namely Tribolium castaneum and Plodia interpunctella, and quality maintenance of the packaged product. Neither of the two pest species tested were able to pierce the P+CPP, while no differences were observed in the time required to penetrate other materials. Moreover, quality parameters, namely pH, acidity and color, did not differ significantly among samples packed in different materials. The new P+CPP combination is a promising alternative for the packaging of semolina, because it offers improved protection against pests compared with conventional materials, while maintaining the paper appearance of traditional packaging.