Modeling the impact of packaging and storage on garlic powder stability: A multi-parameter kinetic approach for shelf-life prediction

Garlic powder is highly hygroscopic and susceptible to bioactive degradation, posing significant challenges to its storage stability. This study evaluated the protective efficacy of polyethylene/aluminum (PE/Al) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging under four environmental conditions (20°C/50% RH, 35°C/70% RH, 45°C/25% RH, and 55°C/15% RH). The results indicated that high-barrier PE/Al packaging significantly inhibited quality degradation compared to PET, identifying 20°C/50% RH as the optimal storage condition. The Weibull model provided the best fit for describing the deterioration kinetics. Furthermore, an integrated quality index was developed to predict shelf life by simultaneously assessing moisture absorption and bioactive retention. These findings provide a valuable kinetic dataset and a robust framework for optimizing packaging design and the garlic powder supply chain.