Food Packaging

Development of Bio-inspired Food packaging materials

Food-borne diseases encompass serious health issues in approximately 30% of the population by consumption of foods carrying pathogens. Several pathogenic bacterial strains viz; Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. Lysteria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridia spp cause food infections. To avoid food spoilage and increase the shelf life, various packaging materials are available that have shown antimicrobial activity but the source of materials are either chemical or non-renewable. Hence, the application of these materials as good packaging materials has become a global concern. We are currently developing a nanocomposite film comprising silver nanoparticles and nanoemulsion impregnated into biopolymer, as an active packaging material for protection against pathogenic E. coli. This work bears the potential to deliver an ideal bio-based antimicrobial food packaging, which could be the substitute for petrochemical plastic in a more efficient and sustainable manner.

pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.2c00237