*4.1.1 Assessment of antimicrobial coatings for packaged fresh milk*

Packaging is an integrated technology that includes protection, ease of use, and communication. To protect the product, it is important to select and design the appropriate packaging materials [79]. Antimicrobial coatings are increasingly being used as a means of prolonging the shelf life of dairy products. This expansion helps consumers to reduce the amount of household waste milk [80]. The quality of the packaged milk depends on the internal properties of milk (oxidation-reduction potential, respiration rate, water activity, chemical structure, etc.) and the external factors (ambient composition, withholding temperature, relative humidity, etc.) [81]. Use of polymeric coating for maintaining the quality of milk is not possible due to many factors' involvement like design and development. Moreover, coating contributes to thermal and gas related mechanical properties due to its unique chemical structure [82]. But, due to the high cost of this process, small industries are unable to adopt it [83].
