Active and intelligent food packaging: legal aspects and safety concerns

‘Active and intelligent’ (A&I) food packaging is based on a deliberate interaction of the packaging with the food and/or its direct environment. This article presents: (i) the main types of materials developed for food contact; (ii) the global market and the future trends of active and intelligent packaging with a special emphasis on safety concerns and assessment; and (iii) the EU Legislation and compliance testing of these novel food packaging technologies.