Phase Change Materials in Food Packaging: A Review.

Phase change materials (PCMs) are a class of thermoresponsive or thermoregulative materials that can be utilized to reduce temperature fluctuations and provide cutting-edge thermal storage. PCMs are commercially used in a variety of important applications, such as buildings, thermal engineering systems, food packaging, and transportation. The potential of these materials for an efficient temperature buffering effect is relevant in food packaging applications to preserve the safety and quality of packaged food products during storage and transit. These latent heat materials might be integrated into active and smart food packaging. Multifunctional microencapsulated PCMs can be employed to increase the efficacy of active food packaging. Additionally, PCMs can improve energy management in cold chains and lessen temperature abuse of foods. The current review focuses on the available methods for producing covers and packaging that contain PCMs, such as form-stable packaging, flexible covers and packaging films, paperboard boxes, wood, and jute, to reduce losses during the post-harvest of agricultural products and the storage and transportation of packaged food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]