Combination of Essential Oil and Food Packaging

Abstract

Active antibacterial packaging is a combination of antimicrobial agents and packaging materials to maintain the stability and safety of food during the shelf life. Essential oil has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and is a natural, green and relatively safe antibacterial agent to human body. The volatile characteristic of essential oil expands its application in antibacterial packaging system. As essential oil containing antibacterial packaging (EOAP) can significantly prolong the shelf life of food, it has become a research hotspot in the field of active food packaging in recent years. In this chapter, the common antibacterial packaging systems were introduced and the migration law of essential oil from packaging to food was analyzed. On this basis, the effects of essential oil mixed with polymer matrix on the antibacterial properties, antioxidant properties and microstructure of packaging materials were summarized. Finally, the construction strategy of essential oil in antibacterial packaging system was summarized and the existing problems and future development direction of essential oil antibacterial packaging system were also pointed out.