Strategies for controlling release of plastic compounds into foodstuff

Recently the safety issues of plastic packaging materials have been taken into consideration due to increased consumption of plastic packaging for food sector. Migration of plastic materials into packed food can also alter the sensory properties of food, which reduces its acceptability to consumers and moreover, the effect of these substances on human health.Many factors can affect the migration of plastic materials to food. Recently, some studies have shown that incorporation of nanoparticles into polymer matrices can influence the release of plastic packaging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nanoparticles on the migration of plastic packaging, migration of nanoparticles into food and their related safety issues. There are several theories regarding the effect of nanoparticles on the reduction of the migration of plastic materials, including the creation of torturous pathway for migrant molecules, as well as acting as crystallization nuclei and an increase in the degree of crystallinity of polymer. In addition, examination of the studies showed that the amount of nanoparticle migration into the food is low.