Application of Nanochitosan in Food Packaging Sectors

Abstract

Synthetic polymers generated from petroleum have long dominated the food packaging industry, and, by the year 2050, it is predicted that 500 million tons of plastic would have been used worldwide. Food packaging is designed to protect food products from the environment without compromising their intrinsic properties. In addition to plastics, food packaging has also traditionally included the use of glassware, metals, and paper. However, these traditional materials also have issues with degradability, disposal, and recycling. Due to their total biodegradability in nature, biodegradable materials have the potential to replace conventional polymers. Chitosan works wonders for food preservation. Due to its antibacterial qualities, chitosan is frequently utilized in antimicrobial films, edible protective coatings, dipping, and spraying for food products. Nanoparticles made of chitosan are possible. A variety of foods have been packaged using chitosan films to preserve their quality. Chitosan offers a lot of potential for a variety of applications due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, non-toxicity, and varied chemical and physical properties. The use of nanochitosan in the food packaging industry is described in the current review.