Annotation A wide variety of plastics are used in food-contact applications and it is important that such plastics do not affect the food with which they come into contact. The objective of food packaging legislation is to protect the consumer by controlling the contamination of food by chemicals transferred from the packaging. Food packaging regulations are constantly under revision, and differ significantly between Europe and the USA. This report provides a clearly written summary of the current legislation surrounding the use of plastics in contact with food. It discusses the plastics used in food packaging, their characteristics and applications. This review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts from papers and books in the Rapra Polymer Library database.

Providing a truly global overview of legislation in all major countries, this practical volume contains the information vital for manufactures of food contact materials and food producers, facilitating a comparison of the requirements and making mutual requirements easier to identify. It covers not only plastics but also other food contact materials, such as paper, board, coatings, ceramics, cork, rubber, and textiles.

Bio-Based Packaging Bio-Based Packaging An authoritative and up-to-date review of sustainable packaging development and applications Bio-Based Packaging explores using renewable and biodegradable materials as sustainable alternatives to non-renewable, petroleum-based packaging. This comprehensive volume surveys the properties of biopolymers, the environmental and economic impact of bio-based packaging, and new and emerging technologies that are increasing the number of potential applications of green materials in the packaging industry. Contributions address the advantages and challenges of bio-based packaging, discuss new materials to be used for food packaging, and highlight cutting-edge research on polymers such as starch, protein, polylactic acid (PLA), pectin, nanocellulose, and their nanocomposites. In-depth yet accessible chapters provide balanced coverage of a broad range of practical topics, including life cycle assessment (LCA) of bio-based packaging products, consumer perceptions and preferences, supply chains, business strategies and markets in biodegradable food packaging, manufacturing of bio-based packaging materials, and regulations for food packaging materials. Detailed discussions provide valuable insight into the opportunities for biopolymers in end-use sectors, the barriers to biopolymer-based concepts in the packaging market, recent advances made in the field of biopolymeric composite materials, the future of bio-plastics in commercial food packaging, and more. This book: Provides deep coverage of the bio-based packaging development, characterization, regulations and environmental and socio-economic impact Contains real-world case studies of bio-based packaging applications Includes an overview of recent advances and emerging aspects of nanotechnology for development of sustainable composites for packaging Discusses renewable sources for packaging material and the reuse and recycling of bio-based packaging products Bio-Based Packaging is essential reading for academics, researchers, and industry professionals working in packaging materials, renewable resources, sustainability, polymerization technology, food technology, material engineering, and related fields. For more information on the Wiley Series in Renewable Resources, visit www.wiley.com/go/rrs

Global Legislation for Food Contact Materials, Second Edition, provides the latest regulatory updates, advances and developments on the main materials used for food contact in terms of the global legislation in place to ensure their safe and effective use. Food contact materials such as packaging, storage containers and processing surfaces can pose a substantial hazard to both food manufacturer and consumer due to the migration of chemicals or other substances from the material to the food, which can cause tainting of flavours and other sensory characteristics, or even illness. Offering a comprehensive introduction to global legislation for food contact materials, this book looks in detail at the legislation for specific food contact materials and their advantages, hazards and use in industry. It covers a broad area of global legislation, including plastic, coatings, regenerated cellulose, rubber, bioplastics, active and intelligent packaging materials, and recycled plastics in contact with food. It also includes expert analysis of future trends in global food packaging regulation. Global Legislation for Food Contact Materials, Second Edition, is a key reference text for R&D managers and safety assessment/quality control managers in food and beverage packaging, equipment manufacturers and food processors, as well as legal staff in food industry and academics with a research interest in this area. - Provides essential updates on the regulatory information provided in the first edition including important updates to EU legislation, advancement of Chinese regulatory system, and updated USDA guidance documents - Features expert analysis of future trends in global food packaging regulation - Focus on specific materials such as plastic, paper and rubber materials in contact with food

How safe is our food supply? Each year the media report what appears to be growing concern related to illness caused by the food consumed by Americans. These food borne illnesses are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, pesticide residues, and food additives. Recent actions taken at the federal, state, and local levels in response to the increase in reported incidences of food borne illnesses point to the need to evaluate the food safety system in the United States. This book assesses the effectiveness of the current food safety system and provides recommendations on changes needed to ensure an effective science-based food safety system. Ensuring Safe Food discusses such important issues as: What are the primary hazards associated with the food supply? What gaps exist in the current system for ensuring a safe food supply? What effects do trends in food consumption have on food safety? What is the impact of food preparation and handling practices in the home, in food services, or in production operations on the risk of food borne illnesses? What organizational changes in responsibility or oversight could be made to increase the effectiveness of the food safety system in the United States? Current concerns associated with microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards in the food supply are discussed. The book also considers how changes in technology and food processing might introduce new risks. Recommendations are made on steps for developing a coordinated, unified system for food safety. The book also highlights areas that need additional study. Ensuring Safe Food will be important for policymakers, food trade professionals, food producers, food processors, food researchers, public health professionals, and consumers.

Food Packaging: Nanotechnology in the Agri-Food Industry, Volume 7, focuses on the development of novel nanobiomaterials, the enhancement of barrier performance of non-degradable and biodegradable plastics, and their fabrication and application in food packaging. The book brings together fundamental information and the most recent advances in the synthesis, design, and impact of alternative food packaging. Special attention is offered on smart materials and nanodevices that are able to detect quality parameters in packaged food, such as freshness, degradation, and contamination, etc. In addition, ecological approaches aiming to obtain bioplastics packages from waste materials are highlighted and discussed as a novel approach in modern food packaging. Nonetheless, this volume presents the advances made in biodegradable and bioactive packaging utilized for preserving flavor, nutritious ingredients, and therapeutic food compounds. - Includes fabrication techniques, such as nanofiber films, nanocoating, nanocompositing, multi-layered structures, and layer-by-layer nanoassemblies based on synthetic and bio-based polymers - Presents the latest information on new biodegradeable materials using fabrication of new high barrier plastics to enhance research - Provides examples of risk assessment for nanomaterials for food safety and the benefits of antimicrobial food packaging