Packaging strategies for cheese stability: A review of materials, technologies, regulatory standards, and sustainability

Packaging plays a strategic and important role in protecting the product and controlling its microenvironment. This review critically examines packaging systems used for cheese preservation, including conventional technologies such as vacuum packaging (VAP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), as well as active and intelligent packaging systems. The mechanisms of cheese quality deterioration are discussed in relation to the functional requirements of packaging materials, including gas and water-vapor barrier properties. Regulatory frameworks and international standards governing food-contact materials are also addressed. Furthermore, sustainability challenges related to multilayer plastic structures and the transition toward circular economy principles, including design for recycling and chemical recycling, are critically analyzed. By integrating food science, packaging technology, regulatory considerations, and sustainability, this review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding current packaging strategies and guiding future developments in cheese packaging.