Antimicrobial food package

Abstract

A package comprising packaging material defining an enclosed space suitable for containing an item susceptible to microbial growth or spoilage is described. An interior of the package comprises at least one antimicrobial surface bearing an ordered nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures. A packaging material in the form of a sheet or film having a first face and a second face, in which at least a portion of one of the first or second faces of the film comprises a surface bearing a nanoarray of metal or metal oxide nanostructures, is also described.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The invention relates to an antimicrobial package suitable for containing an item susceptible to microbial growth or spoilage. In particular, the invention relates to an antimicrobial package for comestible products such as food and drink products.

[0002] Microbial contamination of food reduces the quality of food, limits the shelf-life of the food, and increases the risk of food-borne illness to the consumer. Contamination occurs primarily on the surface of foods, especially foods such as cheeses and meats. For the food industry, prevention of food spoilage is an important variable when determining profit. Moreover, prevention of food spoilage can prolong the shelf-life of products and thus extend market boundaries, resulting in increased profit. The growth of microorganisms on food products largely occurs post processing during storage, therefore the packaging of the food is extremely important to the quality and shelf life of the food.

[0003] The antimicrobial prope...