ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how nanotechnology can be used to improve the functions of meat packaging, opportunities for using nanomaterials in enhancing material properties of meat packaging, and reviews selected examples in intelligent and edible packaging. Growing research interest and advancement in nanotechnology can be seen across many industries, such as automobiles, biomedical, and electronics. Applying nanotechnology in the manufacturing of food packaging can result in composite structures with enhanced material properties. By virtue of their large modulus and crystalline structure, dispersing of nanoparticles within a thermoplastic matrix can form composite materials with an increased tortuous path for gas diffusion, resulting in enhanced barrier properties. The main concern with nanotechnology-based food packaging is unintended migration of nanoparticles from the packaging matrix into the food during storage, exposing consumers to these materials. Studies have shown that nanotechnology in food packaging is considered to be more acceptable to consumers compared to incorporating nanotechnology into food products themselves.
