Advances in metal–organic frameworks for sustainable food packaging: Environmental implications and safety assessment

Food product safety is a global concern, requiring protection from production to consumption. Emerging packaging technologies, including ethylene degradation, modified environments, and bioactive systems, help maintain product quality. Incorporating metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), highly porous materials with large surface areas, has recently gained attention for enhancing food safety and extending shelf life. This review provides an overview of MOF synthesis methods, from conventional to tailored approaches, and discusses key properties such as gas adsorption, oxygen scavenging, antimicrobial activity, and mechanical strength. The applications of MOFs in food packaging—as carriers for bioactive compounds, ripening controllers, sensors, and detectors—are highlighted with supporting research. Recent advancements, including MOF-based composites and hybrid systems, are also examined alongside their economic and environmental implications. Overall, the unique properties of MOFs position them as promising materials for sustainable and effective food packaging solutions.