Technological watch

BackgroundThe recent rise in awareness of safe food and changing consumer attitudes have brought many innovations in packaging technology. Consumers are increasingly demanding natural food colorants such as carotenoids, betaines, anthocyanins and chlorophylls rather than synthetic dyes for food applications. As a result, smart packaging based on natural colorants and biopolymers has been introduced as the latest technology in the food packaging field. Smart products not only protect food from environmental hazards, but also send real-time signals (colorimetric, chemical, or electrical) to consumers for changes in the packaging environment and food quality.