GB703859A - Improvements in and relating to wrapping material for foodstuffs - Google Patents

Abstract

An edible film is reinforced with alginate yarn to form a wrapping material for foodstuffs. The alginate yarn may be formed into a fabric which is scoured to remove oil and dirt and then passed into a bath of the edible film-forming material and dried. The reinforcement yarn may be of calcium alginate or alginic acid; it may be knitted or woven, or formed into flat sheets which may be cut to the required size and formed into tubes or casings by means of an edible adhesive, preferably of the same composition as the edible film. The scouring is preferably carried out with an aqueous solution of an anion-active compound, e.g. sodium oleyl p-anisidine sulphonate or a sodium alkyl sulphate. The edible film may be alginic acid, sodium, calcium or other alginate, a partial glycol ester of alginic acid or its calcium salt, a water-soluble cellulose ether such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, gelatine, pectin, albumen or casein. A non-toxic dyestuff may be incorporated in the reinforcement or the film if desired. In an example calcium alginate yarn is knitted into a seamless tube of 3 in. circumference and the tube is scoured with aqueous sodium p-anisidine sulphonate. It is then passed while wet round a roller dipping into a 5 per cent. solution of propylene glycol alginate ester. After removal of excess solution by nip rollers the tube is passed into 15 per cent. aqueous calcium chloride, washed free from excess calcium chloride in running water and dried, the tube being opened up as it passes into the drying chamber by a ball placed inside it. The dried tube may be used as a sausage skin.