Global Market and Applications for Nanotechnology in the Food and Drink Industries

ION Publishing Ltd
January 1, 2009
195 Pages - SKU: IONT2420383
License type:
The nanoscale is not new to the food and beverage sector, with various phenomena already witnessed and exploited in nutraceutical and functional food formulation, manufacturing, and processing. Colloid science, for example, has been applied to food materials for a long time. An array of food and beverages contain components that are nanoscale in size and in processing (dairy for example), the manipulation of naturally occurring nanoparticles is involved.

However, it is only recently that novel applications have come under investigation for new functionalities and efficient delivery mechanisms for food and beverages. New tools and processes are allowing researchers greater understanding of areas such as the mechanisms of targeted delivery that will potentially lead to smart delivery for both optimization of human health and novel physical, visual and sensory effects. Potential applications include food that can alter its colour, flavour or nutrients to suit each consumer's preference or health requirements; filters that can take out toxins or modify flavours by sifting through certain molecules based on their shape instead of size; and packaging that can detect when its contents are spoiling, and change colour to warn consumers. The understanding of food materials and food processing at the nanoscale is important in order to create new and improved food products.


 

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