Recent Advances in Safety Assessment of Nanocellulose in Food Packaging
Yueming Hu, Feijie Wang, Junhua Zhao, Shufeng Ma, Liqiang Wang
Abstract
With increasing global emphasis on food quality and safety, food packaging has become a critical component in promoting the high-quality development of the food industry. Among various nanomaterials, nanocellulose (NC) has emerged as a hotspot for functional food packaging due to its outstanding biodegradability, mechanical strength, and barrier properties. However, its widespread application in food contact materials has raised significant concerns regarding its potential health risks. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in the safety assessment of NC in food packaging, covering four key dimensions: migration behavior, toxicological effects, public perception, and regulatory frameworks. The findings indicate that NC migration and toxicity are highly variable, influenced by physicochemical properties and external conditions. Moreover, public attitudes toward food-contact nanomaterials vary according to region, national development level, age, and gender, while existing regulations largely rely on general nanomaterial management frameworks and lack NC-specific provisions. This work aims to provide a theoretical foundation for establishing a more systematic and scientific risk assessment framework, thereby providing the necessary assurance for NC to achieve both functionality and safety in food packaging. At the same time, it highlights the need for standardized migration testing, long-term toxicological evaluation, and improved public risk communication and policy alignment.