Authors : Seema A. Patekar, Priya A. Sangole
Page Nos : 60-65
Description :
Food packaging plays a vital role in modern food systems by protecting food from contamination, extending shelf life, ensuring convenience, and facilitating distribution. While packaging improves food safety and quality, it can also impact human health through chemical, physical and microbiological pathways. Chemical migration from packaging materials, including plastics, metals and coatings, may introduce harmful substances such as bisphenol A( BPA), phthalates, and heavy metals into food. Physical factors, like microplastics and damaged packaging, can indirectly affect health, while inadequate packaging may allow microbial contamination, leading to foodborne illnesses. Additionally environmental pollution from non- biodegradable packaging materials may enter the food chain, resulting in long- term public health risks. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of food packaging from a public health risks. The discussion covers packaging design, material selection, microbial safety, chemical exposure, consumer handling, and regulatory frameworks. Sustainable and eco- friendly packaging alternatives are also considered as a means to mitigate negative health effects. Understanding the complex interaction between food packaging and human health is critical for developing effective public health policies, promoting consumer awareness, and ensuring safe food consumption. The review aims to provide a scientific basis for future research and policymaking, emphasizing the importance of safe and responsible packaging practices for protecting human health and promoting sustainability in the food industry.
