Nanotechnology applications in food packaging

Abstract

Packing of food plays an indispensable part in safeguarding the packed food by ensuring the maintenance of their standard, high quality, and security. The selection of suitable packaging material for the specific type of food is based on the functions like safeguarding the foodstuffs from humidity, high temperature differences, oxygen, light, microbes, spoilage, absorptivity, penetrability, food detection, chemical, and optical properties. The wide varieties of glass, metals, paperboards, plastics, and biopolymers are major food packaging materials currently in use. Interestingly, nanotechnology-based food packaging is one of the most promising and newly emerging systems as it imparts enhanced barrier properties, mechanical, catalytic, optical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Applications of nanocomposites as an active material for packaging as well as the material coatings are a promising alternative to conventional plastics owing to their additional functionalities, superior structural, physical, and biological properties in food packaging industries. This chapter depicts an overview of the broad usage of nanotechnology in food packaging sectors in various forms and their socio economic impact along with its advancements in food packaging industries.