11.1 Background
Recent advances in nanosciences and nanotechnologies have led to great interest in the study and potential manipulation of the properties of materials and substances at the nanoscale. Like other sectors, the new technological developments are promising to revolutionize the food sector -from production to processing, packaging, distribution, storage and consumption. The main focus of research and development in the food processing area relates to the development of processed nanostructures in food, and nano -sized food additives. The use of engineered nanomaterial s to improve properties of plastic polymers has opened up another major application area for the development of innovative food packaging materials. Similar developments in the agricultural sector, although mainly at research and development stage at present, could offer many more potentially large -scale applications of nanotechnologies for food production. Despite the promise of enormous benefi ts , such developments have also raised a number of safety , ethical, policy, and regulatory questions . In particular, the likelihood of consumer exposure to potentially harmful engineered nanomaterials through consumption of nanoenabled foods and drinks has led to calls for a moratorium, or an outright ban, on the use of nanotechnologies until they are proven to be safe to consumers and the environment [1 -3] .
As for conventional substances, any risk to consumers from the use of engineered nanomaterials will be dependent on the toxicological properties of the materials, as well as the likelihood, extent, and frequency of any exposure. This will inevitably depend on the properties of the engineered nanomaterials used, and the nature of each application. In some applications, for example in food packaging, engineered nanomaterials may be incorporated in a fi xed, bound or embedded form, and thus may not pose a signifi cant risk of exposure to the consumer. Other applications may, on the other hand, contain free nanoparticles and therefore pose a relatively greater risk to the consumer.