Biodegradable food packaging as a criterion for ensuring food safety

Abstract

Abstract Product packaging is important today as protection and as attracting attention to the product. However, packaging should, first of all, protect products from the negative effects of the environment and prevent rapid deterioration of products. The composition and types of packaging material are regulated in all countries. Most of the food packaging is made of various types of plastic, because it has many positive properties that characterize the packaging, but the degradation period of plastic packaging is about 200 years. Plastic waste breaks down into the smallest particles and is included in the food chain, causing great harm to every link, including humans. The most promising direction today is the synthesis of biodegradable polymers. Of particular interest is the creation of biodegradable multifunctional packaging materials based on biopolymers that contain antimicrobial compounds and antioxidants. This type of packaging is a multilayer film consisting of a base (matrix) and various fillers. The matrix usually includes hydrocolloids (polysaccharides and proteins), lipids or some combined materials. The most promising direction in the manufacture of biodegradable packaging is the creation of polymer nanocomposites, the matrix of which is based on polysaccharides, and the additions are combined nanofibers, which can be represented by gelatin or cellulose, and a filler represented by inorganic nanoparticles (metal oxides). Such packages significantly increase the shelf life of food products, and accordingly make products safer and of higher quality. However, such materials require further study, because their effect on the human body is unknown. In the last decade, biodegradable packages have been developed that increase the shelf life of products with temperature fluctuations, reduce the number of microorganisms and, accordingly, extend the shelf life of products. Scientists have developed methods for obtaining biodegradable packages from protein hydrolysates of keratin-containing raw materials and waste from sugar beet factories. This direction in the production of biodegradable packages is the most promising, because firstly, production waste is disposed of, secondly, food packaging is produced that does not harm human health and extends the shelf life of products, thirdly, such packaging has a short degradation period, does not harm natural ecosystems and is safely included in food chains.