Technological watch

Abstract The introduction of nanotechnology in the food industry has created several opportunities for this sector. Several recent advancements in food packaging use nanotechnology to enhance the function and quality of the packaging materials. This review focuses on how various nanomaterials used in different packaging materials help in maintaining the quality and shelf life of the food product. Several applications of nanomaterials in food packaging such as the use of silver nanoparticles as powerful antibacterial agents, polymer/clay nanocomposites as high barrier packaging materials, and nanosensors were mentioned here. The advances in food nanopackaging, including improved, active, smart, and bio-based packaging, were also discussed. The bio-based packaging offers a substitute for the most widely used non-degradable polymer substances. This review paper aims to highlight some of the most recent technological developments with the use of nanotechnology in the food industry and to indicate some of the many potential future research directions.

Graphical Abstract