Along with the increasing market trend of nanocomposited food
packaging has come an increase in public concern over possible
harm to human health. Many research studies have demonstrated
the probable migration behavior of nanomaterials from the polymer
matrix, but some experimental studies have demonstrated that
the migrated quantity is quite low in relation to other migration
rates. However, most of these studies were conducted with food
simulants, and testing with real foodstuffs remains insufficient.
With undefined toxicity level of nanoparticles, the lack of knowledge
on human health effects and risk assessments may restrict the
number of nanomaterial consumption in the food-related applications.
Publishers and media outlets use their channels to communicate
with consumers and provoke governmental agencies with
regard to the national regulation of nanomaterials in food packaging.
Although, the USA is a leading country in the developmentof nanomaterial safety resources for food and food packaging, a
definite regulatory approach to nanotechnology in FCSs by the
USFDA is still in progress. Besides, the latest European Union
legislation on nanomaterial safety published in 2014 does not yet
cover nano-enabled food packaging. Each national government
needs to address this issue, and more importantly, to take action
for international cooperation in the pursuit of nano-safety alarming
system since nanoparticles may well be difficult to detect in
imported packaged goods that transfer from nation to nation. Legislation
and guidelines should be developed and enacted to protect
public health from the spread of nanomaterials in food-related
applications and therefore, this issue should be addressed in the
international planning policy framework.