Multi‐Functional Properties of Halloysite Nano‐Clays in Food Safety and Security

The expected rise in human population by 2050 demands an additional 60% increase in food production. The objective seems tough to achieve considering a significant global upsurge in food spoilage due to physicochemical and microbial factors posing major threats to food security and safety. Innovative nanotechnology solutions addressing field-deployable antimicrobials, functional food packaging, storage container materials, and preservatives along with efficient supply chain management hold promise for reducing food wastage. For instance, the use of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) in packaging films not only improves the mechanical strength, and barrier properties but also enables encapsulation and controlled release of bioactive agents. Further, the unique and desirable properties of HNTs for biomedical, agri-food, industrial, and environmental applications along with their natural origins in abundance make it a promising platform for developing sustainable nanotechnology applications. As the third chapter of Section III, we will focus our discussion on the multifunctional roles of HNTs in active/intelligent food-packaging systems as nanofillers, nano-carriers, food-quality indicators, coatings, fibers, and capsules. Moreover, HNTs in therapeutic development and delivery for application in animal and plant agriculture will be addressed. Current limitations and future perspectives concerning health risk assessment, material transformation, migration, and regulatory issues will be systematically discussed.