Metal oxide-based nanocomposites in food packaging: Applications, migration, and regulations

Addition of metal oxide nanoparticles into polymers allows for the production of nanocomposites with increased mechanical strength and water and oxygen barrier properties, and can also confer other benefits including antimicrobial activity and light-blocking properties. Migration studies have demonstrated that only a negligible amount of nanomaterial migrates from packaging into food simulants or foods, suggesting that consumer exposure to these nanomaterials and its associated health risks would be low. However, the regulatory framework for nanomaterials in packaging is still underdeveloped even in major economies.