Protection of Chocolate Products from Indian Meal Moth by Adding Cinnamon Extract to the Adhesive on the Wrapping

Abstract

Adding cinnamon (Cinnamonum cassia Blume) extract into the adhesive used to affix stickers to a chocolate package is an effective method for protecting chocolate products from infestation by the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella Hübner). Chocolate packages treated with adhesive including 0.02% and 0.025% of cinnamon extract were not infested with the Indian meal moth for up to 30 days at 28.1℃ and 70-75% RH, whereas 100% of the packages without the extract were infested in the no-choice test. Chocolate packages treated with adhesive including 0.02% and 0.025% of cinnamon extract in the quadruple choice test were not infested with the Indian meal moth for up to 60 days at 28.1℃ and 70-75% RH, whereas 100% of the packages without the extract were infested. A panel test showed that the cinnamon extract treatment would not affect consumers’ choices.