Food Packaging Technology Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) on “Edible, Biobased and Biodegradable Food Packaging Materials”.
1. Which amongst the following is not a food grade polymer?
a) Ethylene Propylene Diene monomer
b) Polyurethane
c) Polyvinyl Chloride
d) Viton
Answer: c
Clarification: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is not a food grade polymer. It is toxic in nature. A polymer is a labeled food grade when it is inert and doesn’t react with food in a harmful manner. Ethylene propylene diene monomer, polyurethane and viton are food grade polymers.
2. Traditional packaging is more sustainable than edible packaging.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Edible packaging material is more sustainable than traditional packaging material. It is because of its biodegradable property. Traditional packaging material leaves residues on degrading, whereas edible packaging does not. Therefore, making it more sustainable and suitable for the environment.
3. Which of the following is not a mechanism of film formation in edible coating?
a) Simple co-acervation
b) Complex co-acervation
c) Polymerisation
d) Gelation
Answer: c
Clarification: Polymerisation is not a mechanism of film formation in edible coating. Simple co-acervation, compound co-acervation and gelation are mechanisms of film formation in edible coating. Polymerisation is a phenomenon when monomers combine together to form a polymer. Film formation mechanisms are those which tell about the interaction of film and the substrate.
4. ____________ and ___________ are used to make edible packaging material.
a) Minerals and vitamins
b) Proteins and vitamins
c) Water and proteins
d) Proteins and carbohydrates
Answer: d
Clarification: Proteins and carbohydrates are used to make edible packaging material. The protein based material includes-gluten, zein, soy,etc. Carbohydrates based material includes-chitosan, cellulose, dextrin, pectin,etc.
5. _________ is a protein based material for edible coating.
a) Chitosan
b) Acylglycerol
c) Collagen
d) Alginate
Answer: a
Clarification: Collagen is a protein based material for edible coating. Chitosan and alginate are polymer based material for edible coating. Acylglycerol is a lipid based material for edible coating.
6. Complex co-acervation includes addition of hydrosoluble non-electrolyte.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: Simple co-acervation includes addition of hydrosoluble non-electrolyte. Complex co-acervation is simple precipitation of polymer complex, when two hydrocolloids of opposite charges are mixed.
7. Gelation is a ________ of formation of edible coating.
a) Consequence
b) Mechanism
c) Result
d) Prerequisite
Answer: b
Clarification: Gelation is a mechanism of formation of edible coating. Gelation is a process when the heating of polymers leads to its denaturation, followed by gelation or coagulation on cooling. Gelation is also known as thermal coagulation.
8. Edible packaging has comparable water vapor transmission rates.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: Biobased polymers are generally hydrophilic in nature. So are many traditional polymers like nylon, ethylvinyl alcohol, etc. Permeability may increase when humidity increases in both cases. Hence, we can say that edible packaging has comparable water vapor transmission rates.
9. Cohesive forces between ___________ is a principal of film formation.
a) Inner membrane and cell wall
b) Film and substrate
c) Endocarp and mesocarp
d) Polymer molecules