Study on the effect of packaging materials on the physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory quality of kunda

Kunda, an indigenous heat desiccated sweet product prepared from milk and sugar, has a shelf-life of a few days under market conditions. In this study, shelf-life of kunda packed in select packaging materials viz. LDPE, metallised polyester and tin cans and stored at 30° and 5 °C was investigated. During storage, several changes took place in physico-chemical and sensory characteristics, the changes being faster at 30 °C than at 5 °C. The storage study indicated that kunda was acceptable throughout the storage period of 42 days at 30 °C and 90 days at 5 °C, irrespective of packaging material. However, the rate of changes in characteristics of the product packaged in tin cans and metalized polyester was slower. Hence, it was recommended that kunda be packed in tin cans and metallised polyester pouches which possess high barrier properties for achieving long shelf-life.