Active packaging is a novel technology which is designed to
incorporate material components in the packaging that release or
absorb substances from or into the packaged food or the surrounding
environment in order to extend the shelf-life and maintain or
improve the condition of packaged food. The technology provides
several advantages compared to direct addition, such as lower
amounts of active substances required, localisation of the activity
to the surface, the migration from film to the food matrix (which
could be used to provide antioxidant effects for longer protection),
and elimination of additional steps within a standard process intended
to introduce the antioxidant at the industrial processing level
such as mixing, immersion, or spraying.