## 1 Introduction
However, the limitations that still exist make it imperative for other strategies to be used as well. Active packaging, which could comprise one of the aforementioned strategies, is a type of food packaging in which different bioactive compounds are incorporated in low concentrations, so as to maintain food quality and simultaneously improve shelf life [25; 26; 27]. Generally, active packaging systems have been designed to release active substances, such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, oxygen scavengers, etc., either into the headspace or product or to remove substances from the food or headspace of the packaging [28; 29]. One of the main advantages of the coatings is that they remain on the food product and, therefore, protect it from contamination during storage and handling [30]. Among the different types of active packaging based on edible and biodegradable coatings is the antimicrobial coating, which is increasingly being used for preventing food contamination due to its efficacy and continuous protection of the product. The embedded antimicrobial agents that are released from the packaging can interact with biological molecules and, therefore, delay microbial growth, targeting both spoilage bacteria and food pathogens [31; 32]. The antimicrobial packaging systems contain antimicrobial agents, such as, e.g., essential oils [33; 34], polycations [35], chitosan [36], pectin [37; 38], and nanoparticles [39], in order to delay or inhibit microbial growth or subsequent microbial contamination during storage and transportation [40]. Edible coatings may be produced using protein, polysaccharides, lipids, and the combined use of edible compounds, and can be applied by either spraying or an immersion step. Dipping techniques form films (thick membranes) over the surface of the product by directly immersing the food into the aqueous coating formulation and subsequent air-drying of the film. Pectin is an important structural polysaccharide of several higher plant cells which allows primary cell wall extension and plant growth. Pectin may be extracted and used as an anionic biopolymer or a soluble in water [38]. It is a plant-derived heteropolysaccharideacharide, which is widely applied as a gelling and thickening agent in food products, such as jelly, marmalades, and confectionaries, while also acting as a main component of edible coatings in food products [41]. Polysaccharide-based films show appropriate mechanical properties and may act as an effective barrier against gases, leading to shelf life extension, without resulting in anaerobic conditions inside the food product [42]. Due to its cost efficiency, high availability, biodegradability, and feasibility to film production, either alone or in the combined application of other polymeric matrices, pectin-based edible films may be evaluated as an environmentally friendly and appropriate alternative to conventional, petroleum-based plastics. Natural antibacterial compounds, such as citrus bioflavonoids, are effective against several foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria. Citrus fruits have been reported as rich in flavonoid compounds, such as hesperidin, hesperetin, naringin, naringenin, diosmin, quercetin, rutin, nobiletin, and tangeretin [43]. Glucono-\(\delta\)-lactone (GDL), which can be also used as an active component in edible coatings for foods, is a derivate of glucose and is a ring-shaped molecule. GDL has six carbon (C) atoms and an OH group which is attached to any C. GDL is a naturally occurring food ingredient, which is widely known as an acidity regulator in foodstuffs. It can be also incorporated into food formulations in order to delay the deterioration of food products and prevent discolouration. Convenient cuts of poultry products are of significant interest but are perishable products with shorter shelf life than a whole chicken carcass. The growing demand for convenient and ready-to-cook, sliced, and pre-packed poultry products requires the proper handling of the food to prevent microbial contamination and loss of freshness.