A critical review of the role of biodegradable biopolymers in ensuring food safety, preserving the nutritional value, and extending the shelf life of packaged food

Abstract

Food packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring food safety, preserving nutrients, and extending the shelf life of packaged food. While petroleum-based polymers dominated the industry for decades due to their favorable properties, their non-biodegradability led to significant environmental crises. Directly extracted and readily biodegradable biopolymers derived from renewable sources offer sustainable alternatives. This review highlights the relationship between the microstructure of these materials and their properties proportionate to their applications in active and intelligent food packaging with a special emphasis on their influence on the nutritional value of the packaged food. Furthermore, the impact of these materials on the safety and organoleptic properties of packaged food is discussed. We critically assess existing research, identify key knowledge gaps, and suggest future research directions for optimizing the utilization of these biopolymers for food packaging.