Protein‐based active films: Raw materials, functions, and food applications

Abstract Biopolymer packaging materials are an emerging trend in food packaging due to their degradability, nontoxicity, low cost, and low environmental stress; moreover, some properties of biopolymer packaging are better than those of traditional packaging. Proteins are a type of natural biopolymer packaging film matrix, and enhancing the packaging properties of proteins has been a focus of research. Preparing protein‐active packaging films by adding natural active substances with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and nanoparticles to protein‐based films to provide more significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, and UV‐blocking effects is essential in food packaging and demonstrates the potential of using proteins in active food packaging applications. In recent years, the origin of natural actives, their mechanism of action, and their release from active packaging films have attracted much attention. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of protein film matrices for active packaging, natural antimicrobial agents, and natural antioxidants and discuss the potential of such active films in the packaging field. The sources of natural antimicrobial active substances and natural antioxidant active substances in packaging materials, their mechanisms of action, and their effects after being used to modify protein active films are summarized. The biorelease functions of protein active films with antimicrobial and antioxidant effects and their applications for various types of food are highlighted to understand the current effects of protein active films in food packaging.