Antimicrobial packaging is an important kind of active packaging that can release antimicrobial substances in order to enhance the quality and safety of food during extended storage. The development of nanotechnology opens the opportunity for innovation in many industrial sectors, including food packaging. Nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties can act as active components when added to a polymer, leading to a prolonged protective function of food packaging material. The main objective of this work was to present the possible applications of metal nanoparticles in antimicrobial food packaging. The subject matter of this work includes a very significant issue of safety of the packaging made with metal nanoparticles. Practical applications Metal nanoparticles have become an important part of our environment. They are applied in many areas of life, including packaging. This work presents some examples of using metal nanoparticles in antimicrobial packaging. This solution allows for preserving the quality and, consequently, safety of the packaged product. In addition, the presence of nanoparticles in polymer matrices improves the durability of packaging materials. Also, metal nanoparticles can improve properties of food packaging material.
Reducing the quantities of food lost or wasted will be an emerging challenge in coming years. The sector contributing the most to food waste is households. The aim of this study is to evaluate consumer behavior on the food market in the context of wastage identification and assessment of consumer opinions in Poland regarding the causes of the problem of food waste in households. A quantitative study was carried out using individual direct questionnaire interviews (N = 1,145). Results showed that Polish consumer opinions regarding reasons for wasting food vary according to demographic and economic conditions. The least educated consumers and families with several children were found to be guided by economic premises in their purchases more often than other groups and plan their purchases more rationally. The causes of food wastage related to irrational behavior were more often named by consumers with higher standards of living and by the younger generation.
An understanding of the consumer perception of health risks related to food expiration is a prerequisite for future food labeling system improvement in order to reduce environmental burdens. The aim of the study was identification, analysis, and assessment of consumer behavior in the context of food waste in households. The study was conducted using the direct interview method (face to face interviews) among a group of 1145 Polish consumers of food. The results show that consumers do not understand the differences between the concept of “use by” and “best before” labeling. Although rice, tea, and coffee were correctly perceived as safe during storage, there is a dissonance between consumer attitudes and behavior. The highest health risk was perceived as being due to consumption of expired “use by” dated milk (out of UHT milk, rice milk dessert, “best before” ready-to-eat meals and “use by” ready-to-heat meals, canned fruits, and fresh-cut salad). However, 51% of respondents still considered consuming it. Irrational consumer behavior poses a health threat as well as contributing to avoidable food waste. Social awareness campaigns are necessary to inform consumers about the monetary value of wasted food as well as about the environmental, social, and ethical impact of their behavior.
Purpose:The main aim of the research is to identify and model the attributes of a food product which are regarded as important during the process of the consumers' choice and to verify the methodology for the creation of the optimal market offer. Design/Methodology/Approach: The carried out analysis was based on the assumption that a food product may be viewed as a collection of directly noticeable and unnoticeable features that are regarded as attributes (values) of the offer. The applied model of a food product is composed of three levels, each of them presenting the characteristic features of product's quality. Findings: A sensory evaluation of the products made it possible to diagnose how consistent the consumers are in their declared sensory preferences for brand and non-brand products. It was established that the intention of purchasing a product is determined by its quality and taste preferences. Practical Implications: The analysis may provide information for communicating with the market and promoting food products, especially when the intention of a producer is to change consumer's habits. Originality/Value: The presented methodological approach may provide clues on what attributes should be constructed in the case of new food products.
The purpose of the article is to present the concept of information value of food packaging, characterize determinants of information value and present the results of own research on the identification of key information on packaging affecting purchasing decisions of food consumers. Unit packaging constituting an inherent element of food products equipment should fulfill numerous, overlapping functions, which include: protection, transport andinformation — functional, as well as ecological and promotional. One of the priority functions of product packaging (not just food) is the informative function. It is assumed that the proper selection of information encoded on the packaging should inform the consumer exhaustively, reliably and comprehensively about the packed product, its composition, nutritional values or storage conditions. Analyzing the information included on food packaging, it can be stated that entities introducing these products onto the market still show a tendency to “excessively” label the packaging (as part of optional labeling). It is therefore reasonable to specify what information is analyzed by consumers in the purchasing process and what information constitutes the information value of unit packets from the point of view of individual consumers. The above will allow identifying key determinants of the information value of packaging and may constitute valuable information for entities introducing products to trade in the field of proper selection of characters and codes of unit packets on the food market.
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