Polymers for Food Shelf-Life Extension

The shelf life of food is of interest to everyone in the food chain, from producer to consumer. Factors affecting shelf life include microbiological, chemical, biochemical and sensory changes during storage. The shelf life of a food is controlled by many factors and the packaging is one of the most important factors which affect food preservation. Without developments in packaging, food harvesting, processing and distribution systems would not have been developed to their present levels, consumers would not have easy access to the wide range of foods offered today, and food waste due to spoilage, damage and loss would be high. Packaging, then, is an integral part of the food industry. The objective of this chapter is to describe the shelflife concept, to examine the main factors influencing it and the main tests utilized for monitoring shelf life, to introduce the role of different typologies of packaging and to explain some innovative polymers for food packaging applications. Finally, the chapter closes with a section on the future trends in food packaging.