33 - Nanosensors for intelligent food packaging

Abstract

Nanosensors are platforms with a characteristic dimension of few nanometers that work the same way as a normal sensor by detecting miniscule quantities and converting them to signals which need to be analyzed. Foodstuff being a necessity of life, nanonsensors’ major goal is to prevent or delay the unwanted changes in color, odor, and texture. The nanodevices provide direct information about the chemical changes and the internal microbial growth taking place in foodstuffs. Using these devices like nanosensors for sensing inside and out for food quality and safety can be termed as intelligent packaging. Timely detection of unsafe foods and identifying the processes that affect the quality of product is the target. Vacuum packaging is one of the preferred paths where the presence of oxygen leads to the deterioration of food due to rapid oxidation of fats and vitamins and promoting the growth of microorganisms. This chapter consists of the basic concepts of nanosensors, their importance, and the smart materials used in them for the food packaging industry.