ABSTRACT
Nanoparticles are increasingly finding application in consumer care products, food products, and biomedical technology. This has led to growing concerns over their adverse effect on human health. Hence, there is a surge in research on the toxicological effects and safety assessment of nanoparticle application. In the food industry, nanotechnology has high potential for food packaging and processing applications. The increased use of nanomaterials has led to new functionalities of packaging materials. However, there are uncertainties over the safety of nanomaterial usage in packagings and food contact materials. The particulate migration of nanomaterials into food products should be evaluated for their safe application in food packaging. Another area of concern is the exposure and ingestion of nanomaterials through foods. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the routes of entry for intentionally ingested nanomaterials, indirectly ingested nanoparticle on migration from food contact materials, and secondary ingestion of inhaled nanoparticles. This chapter focuses on the evaluation of methods for migration of nanomaterials from food contact surfaces, uptake and behavior of nanoparticles in gastrointestinal tract, and their effect of gastrointestinal cells.
