Recent advancements of bionanocomposites in the food industry

The food industry currently utilizes various technologies, including but not limited to, biotechnology, enzyme technology, bioprocess technology and electronics. However, nanotechnology has invaded the food industry over the past few years and made itself a permanent resident. Nanotechnology has substantially contributed to nearly every aspect of the food industry from processing, engineering and packaging to safety, preservation and standardization. The various nanotechnology interventions in the food industry comprise of encapsulation and targeted delivery of nutraceuticals, increasing the bioavailability and nutritional functionality, enhancement of the color, flavor, or sensory characteristics, improvement of shelf life and food preservation, antimicrobial packaging, optoelectronic noses and tongues for early detection of contamination, and nanobarcodes for product tracking, tracing and brand protection. This chapter reviews and highlights the immense contribution and recent advances of nanotechnology in food engineering, processing, nutraceutical encapsulation, packaging, preservation, safety and standardization, and the challenges facing the nanofood industry.