How is nanotechnology being applied in the food and beverage industry?
Nanotechnology will allow food scientists to understand better how food components are structured and interact with each other. As a result, nanotechnology may translate into food product innovations applied to shelf stability and the formulation of safer, nutritious food. For example, a recent German food innovation applied nanotechnology to stabilize light- and oxygen-sensitive beta-carotenes before being added to foods and beverages as colorants and health ingredient. This innovation, recently published in the Journal of Food Science, formulated beta-carotene within a nano-structured lipid carrier (NLC), which allows the normally hydrophobic beta-carotene to be easily dispersed and stabilized in beverages. Besides ingredients, how else can nanotechnology benefit the food and beverage industry? In light of the recent E. coli outbreaks inv lettuce, spinach, and ground beef, nanotechnology may provide a fast and easy method to ensure food safety or aid in plant sanitation. In 2006, res
