An overview of intelligent freshness indicator packaging for food quality and safety monitoring

Background: Recently, the research on intelligent packaging is gaining momentum, primarily being driven by consumer preferences to food safety and reducing the resource waste. Freshness indicator is a kind of simple and efficient intelligent packaging technology, which can directly and scientifically indicate the freshness of food without complex operation. Freshness indicator shows great potential in the food supply chain. Scope and approach: As an innovative food packaging method, freshness indicator can effectively monitor food freshness in real time without damaging food and packaging. The objective of this review is to provide relevant information on freshness indicators, such as release of food freshness indicators (carbon dioxide volatile saltnitrogen sulfides, etc.), types (chemical chromogenic formulation, data carrier indicator, natural color formulation), safety assessment methods (toxicological assessment, exposure assessment), barriers and trends. Key findings and conclusions: The potential of freshness indicators in the detection of perishable food freshness was emphasized. The applications of some freshness indicator products in food and the research demands of safety were also discussed.

Automated summary

Research on intelligent packaging, driven by consumer preferences for food safety and reducing resource waste, has brought momentum to the development of freshness indicators. These indicators, as a simple and efficient technology, have great potential in monitoring food freshness without causing damage to the food and packaging in the food supply chain.