Antimicrobial Food Packaging: Materials, Fabrication, and Applications

Authors: Jin, Zhonglin

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The demands for fresher, safer, and longer shelf life foods with environmentally friendly packaging materials pose major challenges for food packaging. In order to improve the performance of packaging to meet these varied demands, several innovative antimicrobial packaging systems are being developed, tested and optimized in laboratories around the world. All these novel packaging technologies have great commercial potential to ensure the quality and safety of food and hence reduce food waste. To develop an antimicrobial packaging system, three key considerations must be made: what antimicrobials and polymers to use, which method to use to make antimicrobial packaging materials, and how to use these packaging materials. Therefore, this chapter is a comprehensive literature review and summarizes recent developments in antimicrobial food packaging focusing on materials, fabrication, and applications. Advantages and disadvantages of each system are also addressed. The chapter provides useful information for researchers, food producers and package manufacturers in the development and application of suitable and effective antimicrobial food packaging systems for various foods.