Smart Technologies in Food Packaging and Sensors

Dear Colleagues,

It is estimated that two-thirds of food waste, a major problem in modern society, can be prevented through intelligent packaging and food sensors capable of evaluating food quality. Intelligent packaging (IP) can be defined as ‘packaging that contains an external or internal indicator providing information as regards the history of the package and/or the quality of the food’. Intelligent packages are integrated with a target-specific sensor, which can store information on attributes such as freshness, gas leakage, microbial contamination, etc., and convey this information to the consumer. Sensors can be placed either outside the package, measuring external environmental conditions, or within the package, measuring the quality of the packaged foodstuff. Such sensors should be easily activated and provide information about changes that have occurred. Therefore, IP can provide precise information about the ‘actual’ shelf life and directly indicate the current quality state of the food to ensure product quality and safety. IP primarily includes freshness indicators, time temperature indicators, leakage indicators and sensors. The aim of this Topic is to provide readers with a concise overview on recent developments and novel approaches in implementing indicators and sensors in food packaging. The proposed Topic will be dedicated to high-quality research articles, as well as original review papers, that highlight recent advancements in intelligent materials and systems designed for food packaging biosensing.

Prof. Dr. Michael Kontominas
Prof. Dr. Anastasia Badeka
Topic Editors