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1 Review of current intelligent packaging techniques for perishable products. Review of some main printing mehods which can be applied for the fabrication of electronics for packaging. + 1071 word(s) 1071 2019-11-19 11:00:37 |
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Wang, L. Intelligent Packaging for Perishable Products. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/145 (accessed on 29 March 2024).
Wang L. Intelligent Packaging for Perishable Products. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/145. Accessed March 29, 2024.
Wang, Lixing. "Intelligent Packaging for Perishable Products" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/145 (accessed March 29, 2024).
Wang, L. (2019, November 19). Intelligent Packaging for Perishable Products. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/145
Wang, Lixing. "Intelligent Packaging for Perishable Products." Encyclopedia. Web. 19 November, 2019.
Intelligent Packaging for Perishable Products
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The preservation of perishable products to maintain their quality is of paramount importance for food safety and security, and is attracting more attention with the increasing concerns on food quality, healthcare and life. Advances in technology and materialsin recent years have led to the development and implementation of intelligent packaging for perishable products that can monitor or evencontrol their quality in supply chain. In this paper, the techniques used in intelligent packaging (i.e., indicators, sensors, and identification technology) and the major printing methods for fabricating electronics (i.e., inkjet printing, screen printing, and gravure printing) are reviewed with a focus on the packagingof perishable products. Althoughthehigh manufacturing costs pose a big challenge for their commercialization and large-scale deployment, it is expected that the technological progressesin printing electronicswill significantly reduce the manufacturing cost of intelligent packaging to a threshold of acceptance by markets and the broad applications of intelligent packaging can facilitate the traction and monitoring of perishable products for better control of the product quality and improved management of supply chain.

Intelligent Packaging Smart Packaging Printed Electronics Perishable products Printing methods

1. Introduction

Perishable products such as seafood, fruits, and vegetables are important items used in the daily livesofmany people. One common characteristic of perishable products is that they have a short shelf life and are prone to decay. The consumption of such decayed perishable products may lead to illness or even death. In the United States, approximately9000 deaths occur each year owing to diseases caused by spoiled perishable products [1]. In Spain, 0.06% of people suffer fromfoodbornediseaseseveryyear. Besides the health hazards, substantialeconomic loss is another grave concern in the supply chain of perishable products.Because of the ineffective management of perishable products in the supply chain, especially during transportation, almost one-third of the products intended for human consumption arelost or wasted annually[[2],[3]]. The large volumes of food waste have also become a significant financial burdenforthe food industry in the supply chain [[4],[5]].

2. Technologies and Fabrication of Intelligent Packaging for Perishable Products

Packaging is essential for perishable products, as it protects them from contamination, damage, and decay along the supply chain[[6]]. There are two main techniques through which packaging can be improved: active packaging and intelligent packaging.Janjarasskul and Suppakul have reviewed both methods. They concluded that the two methods both helped in the monitoring and preserving of quality of perishable products[[7]]. Active packaging is an innovative packaging system that either releases substances into or absorbs substances from the perishable products or their surrounding environment to maintain their quality and to extend their shelf life. In the past, researchers primarily focused on active packaging, however, in recent years advances in information technology and demand on effective management along the supply chain have led to a shift in research focus to intelligent packaging[[6],[8]].There is a growing need for perishable product companies to enable the packaging of their products to include more information on the product status and the environment conditions inside or outside the package[[8]]. Hence, there is a strong need for the development of intelligent packaging for the perishable product industry to allow for the improved protection of product quality and reduced economic losses.

Intelligent packaging or smart packaging was defined as “a packaging system that is capable of carrying out intelligent functions (such as detecting, sensing, recording, tracing, communicating, and applying scientific logic) to facilitate decision making for the extension of shelf life, enhancement of safety, improved quality through the provision of information and to notify about possible problems”[[9]]. In Europe, the legal definition of “intelligent food contact materials and articles” is “materials and articles that monitor the condition of packaged food or the environment surrounding the food”[[10]]. The basic functions of an intelligent package include tracking the products, monitoring the surrounding environment, and communicating with the backend system or consumers. Consequently, intelligent packaging can provide consumers or food supplierswiththe condition of a food product and its storage environment.Also,anearly warning signal is given when there is an abnormal occurrence[[11]].

The basic functions of traditional food packaging: protection, communication, convenience, and containment have been enriched by the new development of intelligent packaging[[9]]. Kerry et al. proposed that intelligent packaging systems must include three main technologies, i.e., (i) indicators, a more convenient way of informing consumers about the quality of the food; (ii) data carriers, for storage and distribution of data including tracking; and (iii) sensors, for the rapid and accurate quantification of the analyses[[4]]. There are some other intelligent tools that can be applied in addition to these main intelligent packaging techniques[[12]].Holograms can help prevent counterfeiting—and at a lower cost than radio-frequency identification (RFID)tags, which is very useful in the pharmaceutical industry. Thermo chromic inks can change color in different temperatures, and can be used for beverage packaging or for microwavable products, allowing consumers to know whether the hot or cold product is ready to be served.Ghaaniet al. reviewed the intelligent packaging technologies for food and showed the gap between its demand and itsapplication in the market due to higher costs. Hence, future research should also address this problem tomakeintelligent systems commercially viable for the packaging of everyday commodities. It will be attractive to have packaging costs that are less than 10% of the total cost of the products[[13]]. The development in printing electronics for large scale fabrication will be important and the sole approach to reduce the cost of intelligent packaging.

To be better informed about the level of research interest in intelligent packaging, we looked at research records covering the last five years (2014–2018), using techniques such as keyword searches to explore the web of science database. As the numbers of publications identified using different keywords varied significantly, we carried out a normalization process, and have presented the data in Table 1, with publication trends illustrated in Figure 1. Looking at the data, we can see that there has been far more recent interest in intelligent packaging than in active packaging, with the main techniques used in intelligent packaging—sensors and printing—capturing more interest.

Table 1.(a) Recent publications about intelligent packaging.(b) Recent publications about intelligent packaging after normalization.

Keywords

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

(a)

Active Packaging

2246

2636

2757

2628

2968

Intelligent Packaging

483

718

815

1098

1292

Indicator and Intelligent Packaging

14

23

31

29

40

Sensor and Intelligent Packaging

208

280

306

412

521

Radio-frequency identification (RFID)and Packaging

289

308

243

309

311

Printing and Intelligent Packaging

29

35

46

61

80

(b)

Active Packaging

0

0.540166

0.707756

0.529086

1

Intelligent Packaging

0

0.290482

0.410383

0.760198

1

Indicator and Intelligent Packaging

0

0.346154

0.653846

0.576923

1

Sensor and Intelligent Packaging

0

0.230032

0.313099

0.651757

1

RFID and Packaging

0.676471

0.955882

0

0.970588

1

Printing and Intelligent Packaging

0

0.117647

0.333333

0.627451

1

Applsci 09 04858 g001

Figure 1.Publication trends: (a) active packaging and intelligent packaging (b) main techniques in intelligent packaging.

 

References

  1. D. A. Pereira De Abreu; J. M. Cruz; P. Paseiro Losada; Active and Intelligent Packaging for the Food Industry. Food Reviews International 2012, 28, 146-187, 10.1080/87559129.2011.595022.
  2. UN. World Health Organization: WHO Model Listsof Essential Medicines; WHO: Geneva, Switzerland, 2017.
  3. Michael A. Morris; Sibu C. Padmanabhan; Malco C. Cruz-Romero; Enda Cummins; Joseph P. Kerry; Development of active, nanoparticle, antimicrobial technologies for muscle-based packaging applications. Meat Science 2017, 132, 163-178, 10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.04.234.
  4. J.P. Kerry; M.N. O’Grady; S.A. Hogan; Past, current and potential utilisation of active and intelligent packaging systems for meat and muscle-based products: A review. Meat Science 2006, 74, 113-130, 10.1016/j.meatsci.2006.04.024.
  5. Julian Parfitt; Mark Barthel; Sarah Macnaughton; Food waste within food supply chains: quantification and potential for change to 2050.. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2010, 365, 3065-3081, 10.1098/rstb.2010.0126.
  6. Dirk Schaefer; Wai M. Cheung; Smart Packaging: Opportunities and Challenges. Procedia CIRP 2018, 72, 1022-1027, 10.1016/j.procir.2018.03.240.
  7. Theeranun Janjarasskul; Panuwat Suppakul; Active and intelligent packaging: The indication of quality and safety. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2017, 58, 808-831, 10.1080/10408398.2016.1225278.
  8. Bambang Kuswandi; Yudi Wicaksono; Jayus; Aminah Abdullah; Lee Yook Heng; Musa Ahmad; Smart packaging: sensors for monitoring of food quality and safety. Sensing and Instrumentation for Food Quality and Safety 2011, 5, 137-146, 10.1007/s11694-011-9120-x.
  9. Kit L. Yam; Paul T. Takhistov; Joseph Miltz; Intelligent Packaging: Concepts and Applications. Journal of Food Science 2005, 70, R1-R10, 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2005.tb09052.x.
  10. Communities TCotE. Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food and repealing Directives 80/590/EEC and 89/109/EEC. Off. J. Eur. Union. 2004, L338, 4.
  11. Zhongxiang Fang; Yanyun Zhao; Robyn D. Warner; Stuart K. Johnson; Active and intelligent packaging in meat industry. Trends in Food Science & Technology 2017, 61, 60-71, 10.1016/j.tifs.2017.01.002.
  12. Muhammad Sohail; Da-Wen Sun; Zhiwei Zhu; Recent developments in intelligent packaging for enhancing food quality and safety. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2018, 58, 2650-2662, 10.1080/10408398.2018.1449731.
  13. Masoud Ghaani; Carlo A. Cozzolino; Giulia Castelli; Stefano Farris; An overview of the intelligent packaging technologies in the food sector. Trends in Food Science & Technology 2016, 51, 1-11, 10.1016/j.tifs.2016.02.008.
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