Food Protection to Health Promotion: A Comprehensive Review of Edible Films and Coatings as Functional Packaging
Abstract
Edible packaging derived from biopolymers and/or lipids is environmentally friendly, sustainable, and biodegradable, offering a natural alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Edible films and coatings (EFCs) can be applied to foods using materials safe for consumption, where they act as protective barriers against UV-light, mechanical damage, and the loss of soluble solids, water vapour, organic volatiles, and gases. By preserving food quality and nutritional value, they extend shelf life and enhance product stability. Beyond these technological benefits, their role as carriers for bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, antimicrobials, nutrients, dietary fibres, probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics presents promising potential for applications in human health. Despite a substantial number of reviews focusing on the use of EFCs for food preservation and their protective properties, their potential health implications remain largely unexplored, even though these materials are intended to be consumed with food. Human studies are therefore necessary to evaluate their safety, bioavailability, and effectiveness in delivering health-promoting bioactive compounds. At the same time, challenges relating to formulation variability, sensory attributes, and industrial scalability must be addressed to enable their broader adoption. This review aims to bridge these gaps by providing a comprehensive overview of the applications, challenges, and prospects of EFCs. The necessity for interdisciplinary research in conjunction with supportive policies is emphasized, with the objective of advancing the development of sustainable packaging solutions and innovative tools that contribute to global health strategies.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Ethical Statement
Thanks
References
- Díaz-Montes, E., and Castro-Muñoz, R., “Edible films and coatings as food-quality preservers: an overview”, Foods, 10(2), (2021). DOI: 10.3390/foods10020249
- Soutis Trajkovska Petkoska, A., Daniloski, D., D’Cunha, N. M., Naumovski, N., and Broach, A. T., “Edible packaging: sustainable solutions and novel trends in food packaging”, Food Research International (Ottawa, Ont.), 140, 109981, (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109981
- Panahirad, S., Dadpour, M., Peighambardoust, S. H., Soltanzadeh, M., Gullón, B., Alirezalu, K., and Lorenzo, J. M., “Applications of carboxymethyl cellulose- and pectin-based active edible coatings n preservation of fruits and vegetables: a review”, Trends in Food Science & Technology, 110: 663-673, (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.02.025
- Salgado, P. R., Ortiz, C. M., Musso Y. S., Di Giorgio, L., and Mauri, A. N., “Edible films and coatings containing bioactives”, Current Opinion in Food Science, 5: 86-92, (2015). DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2015.09.004
- Marsh, K., and Bugusu, B., “Food packaging—roles, materials, and environmental issues”, Journal of Food Science, 72(3): 39-55, (2007). DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00301.x
- Li, Y., Hua, Z., Li, Y., Chen, T., Alamri, A. S., Xu, Y., Gong, W., Hou, Y., Alhomrani, M., and Hu, J., “Development of multifunctional chitosan-based composite film loaded with tea polyphenol nanoparticles for strawberry preservation”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 275(Pt 2):133648, (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133648
- Otto, S., Strenger, M., Maier-Nöth, A., and Schmid, M., “Food packaging and sustainability – consumer perception vs. correlated scientific facts: a review”, Journal of Cleaner Production, 298: 126733, (2021). DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126733
- Mesías, F. J., Martín, A., and Hernández, A., “Consumers’ growing appetite for natural foods: perceptions towards the use of natural preservatives in fresh fruit”, Food Research International (Ottawa, Ont.), 150: 110749, (2021). DOI:10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110749
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Packaging, Storage and Transportation (Excl. Food and Agricultural Products)
Journal Section
Review
Authors
Early Pub Date
August 1, 2026
Publication Date
-
Submission Date
February 6, 2026
Acceptance Date
June 15, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication