A Relook at Food Packaging for Cost Effective by Incorporation of Novel Technologies

Abstract

Food packaging is one of the essential subject areas in food technology that play an important role in preserving all types of foods. Due to many disadvantages like a non-biodegradable and environmental problem in food packaging industry, a newer concept of use of biodegradable materials in food packaging from botanicals created tremendous innovative ideas in food packaging from past few years. An increased interest in hygiene in everyday life as well as in food, feed, and medical issues lead to a strong interest in films and blends to prevent the growth and accumulation of harmful bacteria. A growing trend is to use synthetic and natural antimicrobial polymers, to provide non-migratory and non-depleting protection agents for application in films, coatings, and packaging. The aim of this review was to offer a complete view of the state of the art on natural biodegradable polymer packages for food application compared to synthetics. Also, heightened overall developments in botanicals, natural and synthetic biopolymers in food packaging and its applications were described by focusing future improvements. This is a timely review as there has been a recent renewed interest in research studies, both in the industry and academia, towards the development of a new generation of biopolymer-based food packaging materials with possible applications in other areas. A lot of achievements in nanotechnology compared to synthetic materials attracted food industry for its wonderful applications in packaging was highlighted.