Abstract
Edible films and coatings have been applied on fruit to reduce aromatic compounds and texture loss and to increase the barrier to transport of fats and solutes. Furthermore, the surface layer on theproduct can protect the fruit crating a modified atmosphere that by controls the O2 and CO2 exchange, reducing respiration rate, metabolism and, consequently, the senescence. A new potential application of this technology is the use of edible coatings and films as carriers of diverse food additives such as antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. This review discusses the incorporation of functional ingredients into the edible coatings and films and highlights of the recent advance in the search for these incorporations. The future trends for the study area are also presented.