Actual and future trends in antimicrobial food packaging

Abstract

Antimicrobial packaging is one of the new active packaging concepts developed as a response to the consumer's demands and market trends. It presents a challenging technology with impact on shelf-life extension combined with food quality and safety. Direct surface application of antimicrobial substances onto food is limited due to rapid diffusion from the surface into the food mass. However, the uses of packaging films containing antimicrobial agents are more efficient due to the mechanism of slow migration from the packaging material to the surface of food. This work presents review of actual and future trends in antimicrobial food packaging technology, emphasizing on antimicrobial substances, mechanisms of their diffusion, determination of antimicrobial activity, legislation concerning antimicrobials and perspectives on this topic.