For a long time packaging has had an active role in processing, preservation and in retaining quality of foods.
There has been more research and development introducing new purposes for food packaging system.
Consumers want to be assured that the packaging is fulfilling its function of protecting the quality, freshness and safety of foods.
Active packaging changes the condition of the packed food to extend shelf-life to improve safety or sensory properties, while maintaining the quality of the packaged food. Unlike traditional packaging active packaging plays a dynamic role in food preservation.
It has an extra function that provides beneficial conditions to the quality of packaged foods by changing the properties of foods or internal atmosphere.
Active packaging is a specially designed packaging system utilizing packaging materials and/or actively functional package objects in the forms of sachet, sheet, label and extra.
Many new ‘extra’ functions have been introduced in active packaging technologies, including oxygen-scavenging and intelligent functions, antimicrobial activity, atmosphere control, edibility, biodegradability, etc.
The new active packaging systems increase product security, safety, protection, convenience, and information delivery.
The packaging materials are designed to monitor the condition of the food and to communicate.
Improving the safety of food using active packaging
