A thematic network to design the penetration PAth of Non-food Agricultural Crops into European Agriculture

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Bio‐based sensors for smart food packaging—current applications and future trends

Publication . Rodrigues, Carolina; Souza, Victor Gomes Lauriano; Coelhoso, Isabel; Fernando, Ana Luísa; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); LAQV@REQUIMTE; DQ - Departamento de Química; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

Intelligent food packaging is emerging as a novel technology, capable of monitoring the quality and safety of food during its shelf‐life time. This technology makes use of indicators and sensors that are applied in the packaging and that detect changes in physiological variations of the foodstuffs (due to microbial and chemical degradation). These indicators usually provide information, e.g., on the degree of freshness of the product packed, through a color change, which is easily identified, either by the food distributor and the consumer. However, most of the indicators that are currently used are non‐renewable and non‐biodegradable synthetic materials. Because there is an imperative need to improve food packaging sustainability, choice of sensors should also reflect this requirement. Therefore, this work aims to revise the latest information on bio‐based sensors, based on compounds obtained from natural extracts, that can, in association with biopolymers, act as intelligent or smart food packaging. Its application into several perishable foods is summarized. It is clear that bioactive extracts, e.g., anthocyanins, obtained from a variety of sources, including by‐products of the food industry, present a substantial potential to act as bio‐sensors. Yet, there are still some limitations that need to be surpassed before this technology reaches a mature commercial stage.

2021-03-18Recensão

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Entidade financiadora

European Commission

Programa de financiamento

H2020

Número da atribuição

773501