Abstract
Abstract The food industry (FI) is one of the most important parts of any country's industry when it comes to food safety and security. A new approach that can be considered is the use of new technologies in this area. Given the rise in population and per capita food consumption, this sector of the industry should pursue sustainable development through the use of nanotechnologies and increased productivity. In the FI, a number of nanostructured materials (NSMs) have been used, ranging from inorganic metals, metal oxides, and their nanocomposites to nano-organic materials comprising bioactive agents. Given the various advantages of nanotechnology, there are increasing questions concerning its application, as the aggregation of nanoscale materials (NSMs) in human bodies and the atmosphere may pose a variety of health and safety risks. As a result, when producing, handling, intelligently and actively packaging, and using nano-processed food items, safety, and health risks, as well as regulatory policies, must be taken into account. The aim of this analysis is to provide a basic understanding of nanotechnology applications in the food packaging (FP) and processing industries, as well as to recognize possible opportunities and potential risks associated with the usage of NSMs.