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Nanotechnology offers benefits to food safety, storage, packaging and nutrition

Published: Tuesday 24 February 2009

An article on Discovery Channel.com describes gives Top 10 Reasons for Using Nanotech in Food.

The author interviewed Lori Sheremeta, research officer for the Alberta Ingenuity Fund, National Institute for Nanotechnology in Edmonton, Canada, who backs nanotechnology applications in the food sector, because she personally thinks ‘that the most important applications of nanotechnology and food are in the area of sensing -- spoilage, bacteria, other contaminants; crop safety’.

Hongda Chen of the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service in Washington, D.C., anticipates that the addition of encapsulated nano-nutrients to food and beverages provides a two-in-one solution to people, who spend money on vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements out of concern that ordinary food isn't providing them adequately with nutrients: ‘Nutrient delivery through nanotechnology is an area that can help improve health and save money,’ he said. ‘This still requires more research, but that's the visionary goal.’

The article summarises the following Top 10 Reasons for Using Nanotech in Food:
  1. Contamination sensors
  2. Antimicrobial packaging
  3. Improved food storage
  4. Enhanced nutrient delivery
  5. Green packaging
  6. Pesticide reduction
  7. Tracking, tracing; Brand protection
  8. Texture
  9. Flavor
  10. Bacteria identification & elimination

Follow this link to read the full article.

 

Related Links:
UK Environment Secretary identifies ‘real potential’ of nanotechnology to defeat the world’s food crisis
'Nanotechnology has "real potential" to help feed a fast-growing world,’
according to UK environment secretary Hilary Benn in an interview with the UK newspaper, The Observer. ‘[It’s a] scientific revolution that could give packaged foods a dramatically longer shelf life and boost crop growth,’ opens the article entitled ‘New science could defeat food crises’ . (9th February 2009)