Food-contact surfaces coated with antimicrobial polymeric materials

The growing demand for improved food safety has fueled significant interest in antimicrobial polymeric coatings for food contact surfaces. This review offers a thorough examination of various antimicrobial coatings, including natural biopolymerbased, synthetic, and hybrid composites, spotlighting their modes of action and effectiveness in combating microbial contamination. It explores key antimicrobial agents such as metal-based compounds, natural antimicrobials, and synthetic chemicals, discussing their unique properties and potential applications. Equally, the review evaluates different testing methods for antimicrobial efficacy and identifies critical performance factors, including environmental conditions, surface properties, and the type of microbial contaminants. The hurdles and limitations of these coatings are also addressed, including concerns about durability, health and environmental impacts, and economic viability. Through detailed case studies, this review synthesizes current knowledge and offers insights into future research, with a particular focus on biodegradable polymers and innovative natural antimicrobials. The findings emphasize the potential of antimicrobial coatings to enhance food safety and inform the development of sustainable food packaging technologies, supporting advancements in health-conscious and environmentally friendly industrial applications.