An innovative approach for probiotics and postbiotics-based antimicrobial packaging systems: design, characterization, and benefit for food application

Abstract

The drive for healthier eating and beneficial dietary practices has led to the creation of innovative probiotic and postbiotic foods with antibacterial properties. Researchers have recently focused on probiotic and postbiotic packaging systems exploiting the antimicrobial properties of selected strains against harmful microorganisms and spoilage agents. The effectiveness of these packaging systems depends on various factors, including their composition, the type of probiotics and postbiotics used, and how they are incorporated into the packaging material. This paper provides a brief overview of current state-of-the-art practices regarding incorporating probiotics and postbiotics into packaging systems to develop antibacterial active packaging. It also focuses on the stability of the system during storage and the expected future prospects. These active packaging systems offer benefits such as improved food safety, longer shelf life, and disease prevention. However, challenges remain, including maintaining probiotic stability on the packaging material and expanding their applications. Overall, this paper discusses the newest perspective on the incorporation of probiotics and postbiotics in the development of food antimicrobial packaging systems, opening new avenues both for the selection criteria of microorganisms and for the selection of packaging solutions.