FOOD SAFETY, PLASTICS AND SUSTAINABILITY A unique book by a well-known polymer scientist on a subject that is trending in plastics engineering. This book focuses on plastics for food safety, materials, chemicals and methods, as well as the applications of these polymers. The book begins with a chapter on food safety. Here, food security and the issues of migration of substances from packaging into the corresponding food, as well as the impact of microplastics on humans and the environment are discussed. In the next chapter, regulations, standards, and specifications are detailed. In another chapter, testing methods, such as risk assessment, freshness testing of food, and food colorants are discussed. In the chapter entitled “Food Packaging”, the methods that can be used for these issues are given as well as the special materials for food packaging. The chapter on materials includes a discussion on nanocomposites, biopolymers, microplastics, and edible films. This is followed by chapters on additives and applications, such as functional food applications. The final chapter covers the identification of the materials, the methods for recycling, plastic waste generation, and post-consumer polyolefins. Three separate indexes ensure a reader/user-friendly experience.

This report presents the results of a study on agricultural plastic products used globally in a range of different value chains. The study assessed the types and quantities of plastic products, their benefits and trade-offs. Sustainable alternative products or practices were identified for products assessed as having high potential to cause harm to human and ecosystem health or having poor end-of-life management. The report is based on data derived from peer-reviewed scientific papers, governmental and non-governmental organization’s research reports, as well as from industry experts, including relevant trade bodies. The report’s recommendations were verified during extensive consultation and review with FAO and external experts. The authors hope that the study will provide an impetus for discussion about the use of agricultural plastics, their benefits and trade-offs, and ultimately stimulate action to reduce their potential for harm to human health and the environment.

Survey’s the issues typically raised in discussions of sustainability and plastics Discusses current issues not covered in detail previously such as ocean litter, migration of additives into food products and the recovery of plastics Covers post-consumer fate of plastics on land and in the oceans, highlighting the environmental impacts of disposal methods Details toxicity of plastics, particularly as it applies to human health Presents a clear analysis of the key plastic-related issues including numerous citations of the research base that supports and contradicts the popularly held notions

Nano/micro-Plastics Toxicity on Food Quality and Food Safety, Volume 103 in the Advances in Food and Nutrition Research series, provides in-depth reviews on recent developments in nano/micro-plastics toxicity on food quality and food safety research. Topics covered in this volume include the sources and occurrence of nano/microplastics in terrestrial/marine environments, release mechanisms of microplastics from packaging into foods, influencing factors of microplastic on food products, their translocation and accumulations potential, microplastic as a critical vector for pollutant transfer, toxicology impact, cycling in the marine environment and seafood safety, and more. Moreover, microplastic migration by enhancing public awareness as well as improving waste management, complications and toxicity associated with the presence of nano/microplastics and quantification methods are highlighted. Finally, existing regulations and requirements of a robust framework of nano/microplastics are provided. - Presents precise reviews from selected specialists on the topic of nano/micro-plastics toxicity on food quality and food safety - Provides valuable visual material, making it easier for readers - Covers the latest insights and future research recommendations on nano/micro-plastics toxicity on food quality - Includes standardization methods for the collection, characterization and analysis of nano/micro-plastics toxicity for food safety and human health

Agrifood systems are undergoing a transformation with the aim to provide safer, more affordable, and healthier diets for all, produced in a sustainable manner while delivering just and equitable livelihoods: a key to achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, this transformation needs to be executed in the global context of major challenges facing the food and agriculture sectors, with drivers such as climate change, population growth, urbanization, and natural resources depletion compounding these challenges. Food safety is a keystone to agrifood systems and all food safety actors need to keep pace with the ongoing transformation while preparing to navigate the potential threats, disruptions, and challenges that may arise. Foresight in food safety facilitates the proactive identification of drivers and related trends, both within and outside agrifood systems, that have implications for food safety and therefore also for consumer health, the national economy, and international trade. Early identification and evaluation of drivers and trends promote strategic planning and preparedness to take advantage of emerging opportunities and address challenges in food safety. In this publication, the FAO Food Safety Foresight programme provides an overview of the major global drivers and trends by describing their implications for food safety in particular and for agrifood systems by extrapolation. The various drivers and trends reported include climate change, changing consumer behaviour and preferences, new food sources and production systems, technological advances, microbiome, circular economy, food fraud, among others. The intended audience for this publication is broad – from the policymakers, academia, food business operators, private sector, to all of us, the consumers.

Sustainable Materials for Food Packaging and Preservation: Food Security and Sustainability discusses the recent trends and development of bio-based sustainable materials, focusing on their fabrication and application in food packaging and food preservation. This book brings together fundamental information and the most recent advances in the characterization, processing, and modification of sustainable materials and their impact on food packaging and storage of food products for improving their shelf life. Special attention is given to smart, active, and edible packaging, and the utilization of nanoemulsion and nanoencapsulation in the food industry is also discussed. In addition, the book reviews the use of proteins, polysaccharides, and microbial and chemically derived materials for food preservation. - Discusses recent trends and advancements in the applications of sustainable materials in food packaging and preservation, providing an overview of various sustainable materials, such as agro-based and microbial and chemically derived materials - Covers fabrication techniques, characterization, and processing of various sustainable materials used for food packaging and preservation - Includes a thorough discussion of the current sustainable solutions for extending the shelf life of food products in the packaging process

Advances in Food Security and Sustainability, Volume Six looks at the challenges, constraints and solutions necessary to maintain a healthy and accessible food supply in different communities. This ongoing series addresses a wide range of issues on food sustainability and security, with chapters in this release covering the Significance of Short Food Supply Chains During Pandemic Times, Food Security Challenges and Opportunities in Indonesia Post COVID-19, Understanding the genetic diversity and association mapping of nutritional traits in graminaceous crops: Progress and prospects, and Traditional foods and food security: Actors, production, and the challenge of integration into markets before and after the pandemic. - Contains expertise from leading contributors on presented topics - Covers a vast array of subjects related to food security and sustainability - Explores challenges related to protecting environmental resources while also meeting human nutritional requirements

Smart Food Industry: The Blockchain for Sustainable Engineering, Volume I - Fundamentals, Technologies, and Management is a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge about food engineering and processing, under sustainable engineering perspective. This book includes disruptive approaches that will potentially enable the food industry for the transition to sustainable production. Divided into four parts, the book explores (i) fundamentals of sustainable food, (ii) conventional technologies in the food industry, (iii) sustainabile emerging technologies in food industries, and (iv) sustainable management in food industries. The book is an invaluable reference resource for students, researchers, graduates, and professionals, in general, who wish to gain knowledge in the engineering and food processing area as well as about sustainable food industry practices.