Food

1. Nanotechnology Contributions at a Glance
The largest manufacturing sector in the world among all industrial divisions, the food industry uses molecules as starting material, modifying those molecules, and building interactions in order to get the desired properties. In this regard, nanotechnology is poised to create better meal, from how food is grown to how it is packaged.

NPD contains data about 362 food-related nanoproducts of 51 various types. These products are introduced into global markets by 147 companies, the headquarters of which are located in 27 different countries. The products are classified into supplements, packaging, meal, sports nutrition, and food sensors sub-industrial sectors.

As one of the most common sector into which nanotechnology has effectively penetrated, packaging includes a broad spectrum of product types such as masterbatchs, barrier films, co-extruded films, PET protective films, containers, garbage bags, food covers, antibacterial bags, thermoformed films, nylon bags, breast milk bags, plastic bags, additives, biopolymers, granules, and nanocomposites. Dietary supplements, anti-aging supplements, silver supplements, herbal supplements, and humic acids are various product types in the supplements sub-industrial sector. Sports supplements includes vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, or botanicals, which are used to improve athletic performance. Various meals such as chocolates, candies, coffees, yogurts, marshmallows, chewing gums, creams, fine mist sprays, mineral waters, choping boards, seasonings, instant powder drinks, snacks, and cigarettes are classified into the meal sub-industrial sector. Moreover, nano-based sensors are currently employed in food industry, contributing to the ripeness indication of fruits, heavy metal detection, and the safety check of meat, to name but a handful.

Researchers and manufacturers have already identified the potential applications of nanotechnology in virtually every subdivision of the food industry, the most important of which are encapsulation of flavor and odor enhancers; food textural and quality improvement; pathogen, gas, and abuse sensors; anticounterfeiting devices; UV-protection; and impermeable polymer films; and nutrient supplements. The most common nanomaterials in the field are silver, gold, titanium dioxide, and silicon dioxide nanoparticles as well as nanoclay, liposomal Q10, and zeolite.

2. Best-Performing Companies in Nanotechnology Exploitation
Quite a lot of companies are involved in manufacturing nano-based products for the food industrial sector all over the world, the most active of which are Advanced Sports Nutrition, BioPharma Scientific, Dose of Nature, NanoGreens, NanoSynergy Worldwide, Purest Colloids, Inc, Nano Health Solutions, Nano Rush, Nanocor Inc, InMat In, Encapsula NanoSciences, Natural-Immunogenics Corp, IÖGO, NutriNoche, MARS, The Hershey Company, Skybright Natural Health, Revive Health LLC, NanoBioMatters Industries, Albertsons, Utopia Silver Supplements, Fair vital, and Activz.‎

‎‎3. Top Countries in Nanotechnology Promotion
Monitoring the headquarters of the ‏recorded companies demonstrates that USA, Australia, Iran, China, Russia, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Indonesia are the most active countries in promoting nanotechnology in the food industrial sector.

4. Search String
The keywords used to build up the food industrial sector database are as follows:
Nano + food ingredients, additives, packaging, active packaging, intelligent packaging, smart packaging, nutritional supplements, nutrients, tastes, flavours, textures of food, fat, salt, sugar, preservatives, bioavailability, freshness, traceability, food safety, food maintenance, nutraceuticals, bioceuticals, stabilizers, membranes, filters, sensing and warning devices, functional foods, pathogen and contaminant sensors, environmental monitors, synthetic food, tea, slim-shake chocolate, antimicrobials, and barrier materials.