Logo

What's happening with nanofoods?
(Nanowerk Spotlight) Back in the early 2000's, food nanotechnology seemed to be a very hot topic and large industrial food companies were eager to explore new opportunities offered by nanotechnology applications. Then, as critical voices from NGOs (see for instance FoE's report: "Out of the laboratory and on to our plates: Nanotechnology in food and agriculture") and regulators (UK House of Lords report: "Nanotechnologies and Food") appeared, the food industry went into silent mode (see our Nanowerk Spotlight: "Food nanotechnology – how the industry is blowing it"). But that doesn't mean that food nanotechnologies aren't being researched and developed in labs around the world.
Here is an overview of what nanotechnology applications are currently being researched, tested and in some cases already applied in food technology:
Nanotechnology food
Examples for nanofood applications (Source: Nanowerk)
Updating our two previous Nanowerk Spotlights on the topic "Nanotechnology food coming to a fridge near you" and "The promises of food nanotechnology", a recent paper in Trends in Food Science & Technology provides a summary of the kind of applications industry and universities are working on ("Food applications of nanotechnologies: An overview of opportunities and challenges for developing countries"):
Application
Status
Processed nanostructured or -textured food (e.g. less use of fat and emulsifiers, better taste A number of nanostructured food ingredients and additives understood to be in the R&D pipeline; eg. mayonnaise
Nanocarrier systems for delivery of nutrients and supplements in the form of liposomes or biopolymer-based nanoencapsulated substances A number are commercially available in some countries and over the internet
Organic nanosized additives for food, supplements and animal feed Materials range from colors, preservatives, flavorings to supplements and antimicrobials
Inorganic nanosized additives for food, health food, and animal feed A range of inorganic additives (silver, iron, silica, titanium dioxide, selenium, platinum, calcium, magnesium) is available for supplements, nutraceuticals, and food and feed applications
Food packaging applications eg. plastic polymers containing or coated with nanomaterials for improved mechanical or functional properties (see for instance: "Food packaging takes over the role of quality control") This area makes up the largest share of the current/short-term market for nanotech applications in the food sector (e.g. plastic polymers with nanoclay as gas barrier; nanosilver and nanozinc oxide for antimicrobial action; nanotitanium nitride for strength)
Nanocoatings on food contact surfaces for barrier or antimicrobial properties A number of nanomaterial-based coatings are available for food preparation surfaces and for coating food preparation machinery
Surface-functionalized nanomaterials Main uses are currently in food packaging; possible uses emerging in animal feed
Nanosized agrochemicals R&D stage
Nanosensors for food labelling (see: "Edible optical nanotechnology sensor for food packaging") R&D stage
Water decontamination Nano iron is already available in industrial-scale quantities. A number of companies thought to be using the technology in developing countries
Animal feed applications Nanosized additives specifically developed or are under development for feed include nanomaterials that can bind and remove toxins or pathogens
It appears that we are still some way from seeing "Frankenfoods" in supermarket shelves – pizza that changes its taste depending on the temperature you bake it; or wine that you design by microwaving it. According to a recent commentary by Timothy Duncan from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Nature Nanotechnology ("The communication challenges presented by nanofoods"), what's holding back the introduction of nanofoods is the hesitation of the food industry, fearing a public backlash along the lines of what happened wit genetically modified foods, and public fears in some countries about tampering with nature.
"Mishandling of previous food technology debates has put nanofoods at a disadvantage by conditioning the public to distrust the food industry and the oversight system responsible for regulating it," writes Duncan. "On the other hand, the history of agricultural biotechnology has taught some lessons about the value of clear communication and respecting public opinion, which many organizations are heeding."
He argues that, at the moment, it is an open question whether media coverage will provide a balanced portrayal of the potential benefits and risks posed by the incorporation of engineered nanomaterials into food and food-related products, or whether a gradual change to exaggerated headlines will lead to ripple effects that endanger not only the future of nanofoods.
But apart from media, the food industry itself has a major role when it comes to interacting with the public about nanofoods – and so far it has remained relatively uninvolved. As the Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society at Cardiff University points out ("CSR in the UK Nanotechnology Industry: Attitudes and Prospects"), "corporate social responsibility is currently interpreted by industry as 'doing no harm', and that industry formulates risk-management policy as a reaction to government regulations rather than from a need to anticipate potential future impacts of their products."
Duncan recommends that the food industry needs to act in order to prevent the public's downstream concerns related to nanofoods from becoming a source of dread, distrust and ultimately rejection. "That said, it is important for all stakeholders to take a long-term view of their public outreach activities, and to not abandon trust-building or engagement efforts if they do not yield immediate public support for marketable nanotechnologies. Rather, public engagement should be treated as an investment in the future; building dividends takes time, patience and persistence."
Michael Berger By – Michael is author of three books by the Royal Society of Chemistry:
Nano-Society: Pushing the Boundaries of Technology,
Nanotechnology: The Future is Tiny, and
Nanoengineering: The Skills and Tools Making Technology Invisible
Copyright © Nanowerk LLC

Become a Spotlight guest author! Join our large and growing group of guest contributors. Have you just published a scientific paper or have other exciting developments to share with the nanotechnology community? Here is how to publish on nanowerk.com.