Recent technological advances in food packaging: sensors, automation, and application

Abstract

Around one-third of the food produced globally is wasted, and on the other hand, there are rising concerns about hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. Food spoilage may occur without any visible alteration in food's appearance or odor, deceiving the consumer into assuming that the food is safe for consumption and increasing the possibility of contracting food-borne diseases. Intelligent packaging has emerged as a novel packaging system to interact with consumers about the freshness and shelf life of the food, thereby elevating food safety and reducing food wastage. In this review, the recent advances in intelligent packaging systems such as indicators, sensors, and AIDC technology employed to enhance food safety and security are discussed. The authors intend to elucidate the types of intelligent packaging systems and their application in packaging various food products. Additionally, the mechanisms behind the working of intelligent packaging systems are emphasized based on previous literature. Furthermore, this review seeks to highlight the benefits and limitations along with the challenges encountered during the commercialization of intelligent packaging.