Application of food-grade antimicrobial emulsions in active packaging coatings and films: A comprehensive review

Active packaging based on food-grade antimicrobial emulsions (including microemulsions, nanoemulsions, and Pickering emulsions) offers a promising solution to the problem of microbial spoilage. This review first systematically examines the characteristics and antimicrobial mechanisms of antimicrobial agents from different sources. Subsequently, it comprehensively summarizes and compares the preparation methods, structural features, and physicochemical properties of the three types of emulsions, highlighting their unique advantages and limitations in encapsulating antimicrobial agents. The comparison found that Pickering emulsions, with their solid particle-stabilized interface structure, stand out in terms of high loading capacity and controllable release. Additionally, it summarizes the evaluation methods of emulsion antimicrobial performance from both qualitative and quantitative aspects. It also focuses on the application forms of food-grade antimicrobial emulsions in active packaging coatings and films. Comparative analysis reveals that microemulsions and nanoemulsions have higher adhesion and lower viscosity, making them more suitable for use as food coatings or functional modifiers. Finally, this review notes that regulating emulsion stability and the difficulty of industrial-scale amplification remain core challenges, and outlines prospects.