Skip to main content

Emitters of Essential Oils

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Releasing Systems in Active Food Packaging

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) are natural bioactive compounds that can be used in active release systems, such as films, coatings or sachets, being gradually transferred from packaging into foods, during storage time. They are a complex mixture of volatile compounds obtained from plants and fruits with biological properties, which can be used as preservatives or flavoring agents aiming to extend the shelf-life and increase the overall quality of foods. Due to their limitations, such as volatility and low solubility in water, and to improve their biological activities, EOs may be encapsulated before being incorporated into the polymeric matrix of a packaging. This technique provides a slow release of the EOs to the food surface or to the headspace of the package. EOs are classified as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); however, the ingestion of higher doses can cause of serious problems of oral toxicity. It is necessary to find an equilibrium between the effective EO dose and the risk of toxicity to consider their use insurance for food purposes. Thus, several studies about EO emitters from packaging to food have been realized and the new technologies have contributed to improve food security, which will be discussed in this chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ribeiro-Santos, R., de Souza, V.G.L., Andrade, M.A., de Oliveira, A.S.B., Motta, J.F.G. (2022). Emitters of Essential Oils. In: Jafari, S.M., Silva, A.S. (eds) Releasing Systems in Active Food Packaging. Food Bioactive Ingredients. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90299-5_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics