Bio-Based Sensors for Smart Food Packaging-Current Applications and Future Trends

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 (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2021-03, Vol.21 (6), p.2148
Main Authors: Rodrigues, Carolina, Souza, Victor Gomes Lauriano, Coelhoso, Isabel, Fernando, Ana Luísa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
active packaging
anthocyanins
biopolymer
Food Contamination
Food Microbiology
Food Packaging
Food Preservation
food shelf-life
Food-Processing Industry
intelligent packaging
pH sensor
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1424-8220
1424-8220
DOI:10.3390/s21062148