Mehwish1,2, Shahnshah E Azam3 and Shan Muzamail4
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan 2Lyallpur Institute of Management and Sciences, Faisalabad, Pakistan 3Department of Chemistry, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan 4Institute of Food Science and Technology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: shahnshaheazamft@gmail.com
The integration of nanotechnology in the food industry has shown great potential for addressing challenges in food processing, packaging, and safety. This review explores the role of nanotechnology in enhancing food functioning, focusing on its impact on defense against chemical corrosion, improvement of physical properties, protection of food, detection of foodborne pathogens, defense against allergens, prevention of heavy metal contamination, and inhibition of biofilm formation. Nanoparticles have been identified as effective agents for preventing undesirable chemical reactions in food media, while also improving the stability and shelf life of food products. Additionally, the incorporation of nanomaterials has significantly enhanced the physical properties of food packaging materials, ensuring UV radiation protection and high flame resistance. Nanotechnology has played a crucial role in ensuring food safety by enabling the rapid and precise detection of foodborne pathogens and allergens, thus mitigating potential health risks. Furthermore, nanomaterials have demonstrated their effectiveness in removing heavy metal contaminants from food items and wastewater, contributing to environmental remediation efforts. The use of nanotechnology has also shown promise in inhibiting biofilm formation and preventing bacterial contamination in food processing industries. Despite the promising advancements, challenges related to the potential hazards of certain nanomaterials and their regulatory implications in the food industry need to be addressed. Future research endeavors are expected to focus on further optimizing nanotechnology applications to ensure sustainable and safe practices in the food industry.