ABSTRACT
Nowadays, food security has become a major issue; hence the introduction of active and bioactive packaging, particularly antimicrobial (AM) food packaging, could play a role in food safety and security assurance. Packaging plays an important role in the whole food chain “from the field to the consumers’ tables.” Furthermore, food packaging has developed strongly during recent years, mainly due to the increased demands on product safety, shelf-life extension, cost efficiency, environmental issues, and consumer convenience [1,2]. Packaging is the technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. The principal function of packaging is the protection and preservation of food from external contamination. This function involves the retardation of deterioration, extension of shelf life, and maintenance of quality and safety of packaged food. Biodegradable polymers fulfill most of these functions without causing any threat to the environment. Owing to increasing urban lifestyles and global population trends, the demand for packaged, frozen, and ready-to-eat foods has witnessed a significant surge in recent times. With the supply of exotic fruits and vegetables, meat products, and frozen foods transcending geographical boundaries, the packaging industry has been focusing on the development of solutions that provide maximum food security while maintaining nutritional value at competitive prices [3].
