ABSTRACT
There has been an escalating demand for fresh foods with extended shelf life and increased protection against food-borne microorganisms, and this has encouraged the development of innovative food packaging materials with antimicrobial properties. Among all reported methods until now, packaging materials made with a combination of organic and inorganic matrices, such as metal nanoparticles embedded in the polymer, has proved its efficacy for the extending shelf life of foodstuffs. Particularly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit antiviral, anti-yeast, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties and could be combined to form active food packaging through a combination of edible and non-degradable polymers. Regulatory agencies like the Food and Drug Administration of the United States as well as the European Union food regulatory authority have regulated AgNPs in a prudent manner owing to an inability to make conclusive statements regarding toxicity of nanoparticles. Hence, use of silver nanoparticles has been discussed with respect to migration of AgNPs into food packages. This chapter was aimed to report on the most recent studies to extend the shelf life of foodstuffs by protecting against food-borne pathogens through use of AgNPs in combination with edible polymer films and non-degradable polymeric films.
