Bacteriophage-functionalized biopolymer packaging solutions for poultry cold chain: A bibliometric and mechanistic...

The cold chain is critical for maintaining the quality and safety of fresh foods by minimizing microbial spoilage and ensuring the secure delivery of high-quality products to consumers. In particular, the poultry industry heavily relies on an efficient cold chain to meet growing consumer demand and to ensure microbiological safety throughout its extensive production and distribution processes. However, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. remain the most reported poultry-associated pathogens and are major contributors to foodborne illnesses in humans. Bacteriophages have emerged as promising natural biocontrol agents and bio-additives with antimicrobial effects in active food packaging systems, effectively targeting bacterial foodborne pathogens. A bibliometric analysis of global research trends further underscores the growing convergence of poultry, cold chain logistics, and bacteriophage applications, providing evidence for their integration into innovative food safety strategies. Therefore, integrating bacteriophage-based strategies in the poultry processing and production chain holds considerable potential for enhancing food safety and public health. This review examines the potential application of bacteriophages in food coatings and films, considering their general characteristics. It also examines various biopolymers that could combine with bacteriophages to enhance the antibacterial activity in these systems and evaluates the antimicrobial effects of bacteriophage-biopolymer combinations in reducing bacterial contamination and extending the shelf life of mainly poultry products. Finally, this review also discusses the challenges of applying bacteriophages as active ingredients in films or coatings for food packaging, namely bacterial resistance and stability, regulatory considerations, and consumer acceptance.