Performance-Safety-Feasibility Evidence Chains for Next-Generation Food-Preservation Packaging: Engineering and...

Next-generation food-preservation packaging is advancing rapidly, yet industrial translation remains limited because preservation claims are often disconnected from migration-derived exposure, toxicological thresholds, and the documentation required for regulatory approval under the intended conditions of use. This review reframes packaging innovation as an evidence-chain problem that must connect engineering design to measurable preservation performance, exposure control, and regulatory feasibility across major jurisdictions. We critically examine three dominant technology pathways: bio-based polymers, nano-enabled composites including enzyme-mimetic nanomaterials, and intelligent packaging systems. We emphasize how structural design choices govern barrier performance, controlled release, antimicrobial activity, and signal reliability. We synthesize migration and toxicology considerations, highlight the roles of non-intentionally added substances and degradation products in bio-based systems, and discuss the additional physicochemical characterization and release testing burden created by nanoscale additives. For intelligent packaging, we focus on calibration to food-specific spoilage kinetics and the practical advantages of noncontact label architectures that reduce migration risk while preserving interpretability. By integrating these dimensions, we propose a comparative prioritization logic that identifies configurations with the highest near-term readiness and defines the minimum evidence package needed for credible deployment. Overall, multilayer and compatibilized bio-based platforms currently offer the most direct route to scale. Nano-enabled functions require immobilization and robust proof of low migration to be feasible. Intelligent systems are most implementable in label-based noncontact formats supported by stability validation and decision thresholds linked to food quality endpoints. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The proposed performance-safety-feasibility framework offers practical guidance for the design and evaluation of advanced food packaging systems. It can support the optimization of biodegradable and active materials, enhance intelligent freshness monitoring, and assist industry and regulatory bodies in material selection and safety assessment.