A breathable surface treatment for fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Prepared for produce category & merchandising teams.
01 · The buyer opportunity
Produce loses value between pack-out and the shelf edge.
Moisture loss, surface dulling and uneven appearance during handling, transit and store-level rotation all erode what buyers and shoppers see at the shelf. Today’s options are typically heavier processing chemistries or label-driven fungicide programs.
Buyers are asking for a gentler, cleaner-label quality-support option that fits inside an existing pack line.
What buyers tell us
Three pressures on the produce P&L
01
Visual quality slipping between pack and shelf.
02
Pressure for cleaner-label, surface-based options.
03
Limited pack-line minutes to add a new step.
02 · Origin story
From the mushroom to the shelf.
A plant-derived structural sugar — sourced from the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and refined for surface application on fruit, vegetables and flowers.
In plain English
Chitin is one of nature’s most common structural sugars.
- Chitin is a naturally occurring structural sugar the same family of materials that gives fungal cell walls their structure.
- The chitosan in Chitosan FG® is sourced from the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) a plant-based, non-crustacean source, refined for surface application on fruit, vegetables and flowers.
- Unlike most sugar-derived materials, chitosan carries a positive electrical charge.
- That charge lets it interact with produce surfaces and support formation of a thin, breathable surface film.
Buyer note
Framed as surface interaction and quality support — not as a kill, sanitizer or processing-aid claim.
03 · User case study · Cut-flower bouquet
One bouquet. One misting. Ten days of saleable look.
Bouquet purchased Jan 8, 2024, misted once with 0.25% chitosan oligosaccharide from oyster mushrooms (DDA 98%, MW ~3 kDa, ζ +36 mV). Still in good shape on Jan 18 — a single-sample anecdote, not a controlled trial.
JAN 8, 2024
Day 0 • misted
JAN 8, 2024
Day 0
JAN 8, 2024
Day 0
JAN 13, 2024
Day 5
JAN 18, 2024
Day 10
JAN 18, 2024
Day 10
| Formulation | Deacetylation | Molecular weight | Zeta potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25% mist · single application chitosan oligosaccharide · oyster mushroom source |
DDA 98% | ~3 kDa | ζ +36 mV |
Single-sample anecdote not a controlled trial. Not a Chitosan FG® performance claim.
04 · How Chitosan FG® works
A positive charge that anchors. A thin film that breathes.
01 Activate
Charged in mild acid
In a mildly acidic carrier, chitosan becomes positively charged and ready to interact with surfaces.
02 Anchor
Electrostatic attraction
Positive charge anchors to negatively charged produce surfaces, creating a uniform coating layer.
03 Self-assemble
A breathable film forms
As water evaporates, the layer self-assembles into a thin, continuous, semi-permeable film.
04 Support
Moisture & gas balance
The film helps moderate moisture and gas exchange supporting freshness, visual quality and surface uniformity.
Mode of action
Purely physical. A surface barrier.
When applied, Chitosan FG® forms a semi-permeable chitosan film on the surface of food and flowers. Its mode of action is purely physical — it provides a natural surface barrier without functioning as a chemical preservative.
05 · Technical credibility
Why the chemistry holds up under real packing conditions.
Surface charge
+60 mV
A strongly positive surface charge supports robust electrostatic interaction with negatively charged produce surfaces.
pH window
2–12
Maintains cationic behavior across an unusually wide pH window — resilient to typical pack-line and rinse water variability.
Chemistry
COS-Lactate
chitosan oligosaccharide lactate
A chitosan oligosaccharide lactate selected for solubility, surface activity and gentle handling on the surface of fruit, vegetables and flowers.
These properties are why Chitosan FG® can form a coherent surface coating across diverse produce types and pack-line water chemistries.
06 · Pre-packing application proposal
Spray before pack-out. Coat. Pack. Ship.
1. Lay out produce
Produce is presented on the existing pack line, before packaging, in standard handling conditions.
2. Even Chitosan FG® spray
An even, light spray is applied to the produce surface using standard spray hardware.
3. Film forms & pack
As surface moisture evaporates, the breathable film self-assembles; produce is then packed normally.
4. Ship to store
Packed product is shipped to supermarkets following standard cold chain and handling procedures.
For discussion
An operational proposal — not a validated process.
Fit must be evaluated within each packer’s existing line setup and standard handling procedures. We bring the chemistry; the packer brings the process.
07 · How Chitosan FG® sits next to existing options
A claims-safe comparison — where each option lives in the produce conversation.
| DIMENSION | Chitosan FG. Chitosan Global |
Chlorites / ClO₂-generating processing chemistries |
Conventional post-harvest fungicides label-driven crop protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Cationic surface treatment for fruit, vegetables and flowers; supports produce quality. | Typically positioned as antimicrobial processing chemistries in specific permitted applications. | Typically positioned as crop-protection / disease-control chemistries under pesticide labels. |
| Commercial story | Forms a natural, breathable surface film supporting freshness, visual quality, moisture management & surface uniformity. | Often used where antimicrobial treatment steps are part of processing programs. | Often used where disease-management programs are part of post-harvest handling. |
| Mode of action story | COS-Lactate with strong + charge → electrostatic interaction → semi-permeable coating. | Discussed in antimicrobial-treatment terms; not a breathable coating story. | Discussed in disease-control terms; not a breathable coating story. |
| Surface interaction | Anchors to produce surfaces through cationic interaction; supports a uniform coating layer. | Used as a treatment step in wash, dip, spray or processing water systems, depending on product/use. | Applied per fungicide label directions for post-harvest disease management. |
| Breathable film story | Yes — core positioning. | Not typically the core commercial story. | Not typically the core commercial story. |
| Claims style | Physical, quality-supporting, claims-safe language. | Product-specific antimicrobial / sanitizing language may apply, depending on product & permitted use. | Product-specific fungicidal / disease-control language may apply, depending on product label. |
| Pre-packing spray fit | Strong fit — supports coating formation before pack-out & shipment. | Use conditions are product-specific; may include rinse or other processing requirements. | Use conditions are label-specific and tied to crop/disease/application instructions. |
| Buyer-friendly framing | Gentle surface treatment, clean-label-oriented, for fruit, vegetables and flowers. | More processing-chemistry-centered conversation. | More crop-protection / disease-management-centered conversation. |
08 · Claims-safe positioning
What we do not claim.
Chitosan FG® is positioned only on the surface-quality and physical-coating story. We are deliberately conservative about regulated claim categories.
Not claimed
Does not claim to kill bacteria.
No kill, log-reduction or sanitizer language is used in any Chitosan FG® materials.
Not claimed
Does not claim to prevent spoilage.
We talk about surface integrity and visual quality — not the prevention of spoilage as an outcome.
Not claimed
Does not claim a specific shelf-life extension.
No “+X days” promises. Performance must be evaluated in each packer’s real conditions.
Not claimed
Not a sanitizer or disinfectant.
Chitosan FG® is not registered or positioned as a sanitizer, disinfectant or antimicrobial pesticide.
Not claimed
Does not replace refrigeration.
Cold-chain and standard produce handling remain essential. Chitosan FG® complements them.
Not claimed
Does not claim to prevent foodborne illness.
Food-safety outcomes remain the responsibility of established sanitation and handling programs.
What we do say → forms a breathable surface film · maintains freshness & visual quality · reduces moisture loss · supports surface uniformity.
09 · Documentation & due diligence
Documentation, ready for buyer review.
COA · Lot quality
Certificate of Analysis
Lot-level COA available for each Chitosan FG® batch.
SDS · Safety data
MSDS / SDS
Current safety data sheet for category, packer & food-safety review.
DOWNLOAD MSDS →
Source of truth
All documentation is issued directly by Chitosan Global.
Lot-level COA and current MSDS are linked directly above. Full product details at chitosanglobal.com/wholesale — or via the buyer contact on the next slide.
✓ For surface application
✓ Lot traceability
✓ Pack-line handling guidance
✓ Buyer Q&A on request