Beeswax as a Sustainable Alternative to Vacuum Packaging for Beef Storage
Lukaš Palkovski, Aivaras Anužis, Eglė Purvaneckaitė
St. Ignatius Loyola College, Department of Health Sciences and Technologies, Kaunas, Lithuania
Keywords: beef, beeswax, sustainable meat packaging, microbiological analysis
Abstract:
Rising beef consumption in the European gastronomic sector has intensified sustainability concerns, particularly due to reliance on disposable plastic vacuum packaging. Although vacuum storage effectively prolongs freshness by removing oxygen and retaining moisture, it contributes to environmental pollution. Beeswax, unlike other bee products, has been less extensively studied, and its potential as an alternative packaging material for meat remains underexplored, particularly with respect to microbiological parameters over time. This study aimed to analyse the microbiological properties of beef coated with beeswax and to compare them with those of beef stored in vacuum packaging and in standard box storage. The research involved literature analysis and microbiological testing, including evaluation of weight loss over time, pH measurements, and determination of total bacterial count, lactic acid bacteria, and viable Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results indicated that beeswax coating had a positive effect on microbial stability. Beef stored in beeswax exhibited significantly lower weight loss – nine times less than vacuum-packed meat and two times less than box-stored samples. After nine days, a reduction in lactic acid bacteria was observed, while pH levels showed no significant fluctuations. The antimicrobial effect of beeswax was limited against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, suggesting that beeswax primarily contributed to preservation by reducing moisture loss and slowing general microbial growth rather than eliminating specific pathogens. In conclusion, beeswax coating offers a promising, more sustainable alternative to plastic vacuum bags for beef storage. However, further long-term studies are necessary to determine precise storage
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