Nanoparticles in Active Polymer Food Packaging

Book excerpt: Active polymer food packaging is packaging which has been designed to deliberately interact with food or with a direct food environment to reduce oxygen and moisture levels, preserve flavourings and the quality of the food. New concepts of active and intelligent packaging play an increasingly important role by offering numerous and innovative solutions for extending the shelf-life or for maintaining, improving or monitoring food quality and safety. This is the driving force for the food packaging industry's development of new and improved packaging concepts using nanoparticles.This book gives an overview of applications for various types of nanoparticles, such as different metal based substances, and explains their role in polymer food packaging.The book also elaborates the mechanism of activity of each type of nanoparticle, for example:- Antimicrobial activity- Oxygen absorption (scavengers)- Ultraviolet blocking properties- Water vapour permeabilityThe characterisation of polymer nanocomposite materials and the regulatory aspects of nanomaterials are also discussed.Information is provided about the polymers and polymer nanocomposites, and in addition, the book provides information about new food packaging materials with improved mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties to preserve the food during transport and storage.