Advances in Cold Atmospheric Plasma for Foods

This review systematically examines the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), with particular emphasis on the interaction pathways between reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and biological or chemical contaminants. It evaluates the impact of key processing parameters and food matrices on treatment outcomes and synthesizes recent advances in CAP applications for mitigating diverse food hazards. Limitations and current research gaps are discussed, especially regarding the complex interactions between plasma-generated species and food components. Future research directions are outlined, focusing on molecular-level mechanistic studies, the development of tailored treatment protocols for specific food categories, and the integration of real-time monitoring systems to enable precise, optimized plasma processing.