Trends and Advances in Development of Photodynamic, Photothermal, and Intelligent Food Packaging: A Review

The Quick Summary

Food packaging is getting smarter to help food last longer and stay good. This review looks at special packaging that uses light to stop germs from growing and to check if food is still fresh. It talks about how these packages work, what they’re made of, and how well they perform.

Practical Implications

This research highlights advanced packaging solutions that can extend shelf life and reduce spoilage using innovative light-activated technologies. Such approaches offer food scientists new tools to develop safer, higher-quality, and more sustainable food products.

Potential Use in Indonesia

In Indonesia’s tropical climate, food spoils quickly, especially for street vendors and in traditional markets lacking consistent refrigeration. These intelligent packaging technologies could significantly extend the freshness and safety of perishable goods like fresh produce and ready-to-eat meals, reducing waste. Implementing such solutions could particularly benefit small-scale vendors and local supply chains by offering a practical way to maintain food quality and safety without relying heavily on expensive cold chain infrastructure.

Original Abstract

Food packaging has evolved as advanced technologies to reduce food wastage by actively enhancing safety, quality, and sustainability. This review focuses on the mechanisms, materials chemistry, and application performance of photodynamic, photothermal, and intelligent food packaging systems that exploit light-induced chemical and thermal processes for microbial control and freshness monitoring. Photodynamic packaging employs natural photosensitizers, including curcumin, riboflavin, and porphyrin……

Read the full peer-reviewed publication here