Emerging silver nanomaterials for smart food packaging in combating food-borne pathogens

The type of packaging used for food products is an essential component in the extension of their shelf life, their quality and nutritional value, and their protection from contaminants, moisture, and bacteria. Because of the emergence of drug-resistant pathogenic strains, food packaging is increasingly important in protecting consumers from diseases. Moreover, the food industry has grown exponentially overtime and has suffered huge economic losses and contributed to loss of life due to food spoilage and foodborne pathogens. Novel packaging technologies are being explored that hold the potential to develop more eco-friendly, more economic, safer, and longer storage characteristics. The research and industrial sectors are focusing strongly on ways to enhance consumer safety through sustainable and smart packaging. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have opened up new areas of research and are an important factor in the evolution of the global food packaging industry, and already a wide range of AgNPs have been examined in regard to minimizing both the risk of food spoilage and the effects of emerging foodborne pathogens. This chapter reviews a broad range of AgNPs as key antimicrobial components in smart and active packaging and also highlights AgNPs’ antimicrobial mechanisms and the current status and challenges related to nano-silver-based packaging and the related regulations.