Application of Metal-Organic Frameworks in Food and Food Safety

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystalline porous solids composed of metal ions or clusters coordinated with organic ligands. Owing to their unique structural properties—such as large surface area, tunable pore size, and chemical versatility-MOFs have emerged as promising candidates for applications across scientific disciplines, including food science. In the food industry, MOFs are gaining increasing attention for their potential in advancing food safety, shelf-life extension, intelligent packaging, contaminant detection, and purification. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of MOF applications in food systems, emphasizing their structural advantages and functional roles in packaging, sensing, and purification technologies. Additionally, it discusses toxicity concerns, scalability issues, and regulatory challenges, while highlighting future directions in green synthesis, biocompatible frameworks, and interdisciplinary innovation. The use of eco-friendly and food-safe MOFS could unlock their true potential for sustainable food innovation [۱], [۲].

Keywords:

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) , Food Safety , Smart Packaging , Shelf-Life Extension , Antimicrobial Activity , Food Sensing , Food Purification , Controlled Release , Green Synthesis , Sustainable Food Technology