Question:
Which of the following plastic packaging materials of about 10 microns is commonly used for individually wrapping 'citrus fruits' by blowing hot air for a tight contact seal, which reduces blemishes, delays physiological senescence, and restricts the spreading of microbial spoilage infected by contact surface?
Which of the following plastic packaging materials of about 10 microns is commonly used for individually wrapping 'citrus fruits' by blowing hot air for a tight contact seal, which reduces blemishes, delays physiological senescence, and restricts the spreading of microbial spoilage infected by contact surface?
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Thin LDPE films (10 microns) are highly suitable for fruit shrink-wrapping because they are flexible, heat-shrinkable, and provide a semi-permeable barrier that extends the shelf life of fresh citrus fruits.
Updated On: Jul 23, 2026
- HDPE
- Nylon
- PVC
- LDPE
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Individual seal-packaging (commonly known as unipackaging) is a post-harvest preservation method used for fresh produce.
It involves shrink-wrapping individual fruits in thin plastic films to extend shelf life and maintain quality.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate the suitability of the packaging materials for shrink-wrapping fresh citrus fruits:
- HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) has high crystalline structure, making it stiff and less stretchable, which prevents it from forming a tight shrink seal around irregular fruits.
- Nylon has excellent gas barrier properties, but lacks the low-temperature shrink characteristics required for delicate fresh produce.
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) can be used, but plasticizer migration and environmental concerns limit its direct-contact application for fresh whole fruits.
- LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) films of approximately 10 microns are highly flexible and have excellent shrink properties.
- When wrapped around citrus fruits and exposed to hot air, the LDPE film shrinks tightly to form a skin-like contact seal.
- This thin barrier reduces water loss (preventing shrinkage and blemishes), creates a modified micro-atmosphere that slows down respiration and delays senescence, and physically isolates each fruit to prevent the spread of surface molds (such as green/blue rot) from infected fruits to adjacent healthy ones.
Therefore, LDPE is the most commonly used plastic material for this purpose.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The plastic packaging material used for wrapping citrus fruits is LDPE. Hence, the correct option is (D).
Individual seal-packaging (commonly known as unipackaging) is a post-harvest preservation method used for fresh produce.
It involves shrink-wrapping individual fruits in thin plastic films to extend shelf life and maintain quality.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate the suitability of the packaging materials for shrink-wrapping fresh citrus fruits:
- HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) has high crystalline structure, making it stiff and less stretchable, which prevents it from forming a tight shrink seal around irregular fruits.
- Nylon has excellent gas barrier properties, but lacks the low-temperature shrink characteristics required for delicate fresh produce.
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) can be used, but plasticizer migration and environmental concerns limit its direct-contact application for fresh whole fruits.
- LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) films of approximately 10 microns are highly flexible and have excellent shrink properties.
- When wrapped around citrus fruits and exposed to hot air, the LDPE film shrinks tightly to form a skin-like contact seal.
- This thin barrier reduces water loss (preventing shrinkage and blemishes), creates a modified micro-atmosphere that slows down respiration and delays senescence, and physically isolates each fruit to prevent the spread of surface molds (such as green/blue rot) from infected fruits to adjacent healthy ones.
Therefore, LDPE is the most commonly used plastic material for this purpose.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The plastic packaging material used for wrapping citrus fruits is LDPE. Hence, the correct option is (D).
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