Despite an explosion of growth in this area, food nanotechnology is still a lesser-known subfield of the greater nanotechnology spectrum, even among professional nanotechnologists.
This article addresses this knowledge deficit by providing a comprehensive review of current developments in nanotechnology as it applies to foods and food-related systems, focusing specifically on applications which are most likely to enjoy consumer acceptance and regulatory attention in the immediate future.
Covered topics include polymer nanocomposites for stronger, higher barrier packaging materials, nanoparticle-based antimicrobials, and sensors/assays that detect contaminants in foods or monitor changes in packaging conditions or integrity.
Specific health concerns related to these various applications are also briefly described. The article concludes with a brief overview of the commercial and regulatory outlook of food nanomaterials.