Leatherhead Food International (LFI) has joined with the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network to launch a focus group to develop a dialogue between industry and government over applications of the technology in food and drink.
The group will also promote awareness of nanotechnology and act as a conduit for relaying industry views to the government-funded Technology Strategy Board, said LFI project leader Kathy Groves. “It will also give members the opportunity to get involved in pre-competitive research.”
From targeted delivery of key nutrients to more stable emulsions, anti-bacterial surfaces, gas or light barriers in packaging and moisture resistant food coatings, nanotechnology presented exciting opportunities for the food industry, said Groves.
However, LFI had also been working on several equally important projects involving nano-emulsions, she said. One such project, run in partnership with the Institute of Food Research, was developing water in oil in water (WOW) emulsions. These solutions could help manufacturers create water-filled fat droplets that imparted the same texture and creaminess as a standard fat droplet with half the fat.
Other new projects would explore proteins, hydrocolloids and polysaccharides, said Groves. “Real benefits from structuring these ingredients at the nano-level could be obtained.”
While the technology opened up new opportunities for the food industry, however, it had also attracted a lot of controversy. The Soil Association recently announced a ban on engineered nano materials (ENMs) as part of a stand against a “hazardous, potentially toxic technology that poses a serious new threat to human health”.
The British Standards Institute recently published voluntary guidance on labelling for companies using ENMs. But food manufacturers have been reluctant actively to label products for fear of drawing attention to the issue and potentially alarming consumers, said one industry source. “Adding ‘this contains nanoparticles of titanium dioxide’ to your product in the interests of transparency is all very well, but I can’t see people doing it unless they have to. It looks like a warning.”
Examples already on the market include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beer bottles with nano-clay gas-barriers; polypropylene food containers with nano-silver (for its antimicrobial effects); and films containing nano-zinc oxide for wrapping food (to protect against UV light).