Packaging and combined treatments

Packaging or edible coating based on natural polymers containing plant-extract play an important role in food industry. When encapsulation under nanoscale, their bioactivity can be enhanced, thereby enabling the reduction of the doses required to ensure the biological activity. Combining irradiation with active natural polymers can increase microbial radiosensitivity and reduce the dose of individual treatment while maintaining the quality and safety of the food product.Radiation treatment can also serve as a tool for crosslinking, surface grafting and for reactive compatibilization of natural polymers. In this presentation I will present a summary of the different opportunities that irradiation can bring for the development of active polymers or new combined treatments to assure food safety.