Antioxidant Activity Assays for Food Packaging Materials

Antioxidant packaging is an emerging technology that limits deteriorative reactions in oxidation-sensitive food products. The direct interaction of the antioxidant material with the packaged product may inhibit oxidation reactions by scavenging free radicals, consequently improving the food stability and extending its shelf-life. Although these packages represent a promising alternative for preserving food, until now, standardized procedures to accurately quantify their efficacy have been lacking. The methodologies employed to assess the antioxidant activity of food packaging are the same as those already used for natural extracts. These methods measure the ability of the analyzed material to scavenge free radicals. Herein, we describe in detail the principal methodologies that have been used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of food packaging materials.