Investigation of Transparent High-Band Gap Sustainable Food Contact Interface and Migration: A Safe Nanoparticle-Embedded Packaging

The incorporation of nanoparticles in food packaging applications improves the overall efficiency of the packaging material and enhances food quality. To normalize and raise consumer awareness of the benefits of eco-friendly nanoparticle-embedded packaging materials, these materials must be thoroughly analyzed, adhere to regulatory standards, and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This work aims to present a detailed profile of a food-contact material prepared using an optimized level of PVA and embedded with metal-oxide (Mg-ZnO ≈ 32 nm) nanoparticles (NPs), agricultural residue (rice bran), and kitchen waste (moringa fiber). The NP ratio was varied to prepare films MZ1 (control), MZ2 (2 wt %), MZ3 (4 wt %), MZ4 (6 wt %), and MZ5 (8 wt %). Characterizations, including physicochemical evaluation of the film (SEM, XRD, FTIR), optical properties, mechanical strength (MZ2 – 6.13 MPa), and the leaching limit of nanoparticles from the film into various food simulants (B, C, and D) were studied. MZ2 and MZ3 had a bacterial load of <50 CFU/cm2, indicating compliance with the food packaging standard. The specific migration study using ICP-MS indicates that the films are suitable for storing fatty foods, with an acceptable migration level (<5 mg/L). These prepared films, with minimal leaching and multifunctional properties such as ultraviolet (UV) resistance (up to 85%) and antibacterial activity, show promising potential as nanoparticle-embedded packaging materials for large-scale applications.