Anthocyanins-based intelligent packaging: Sustainable innovations for real-time food monitoring and preservation

Traditional food packaging is limited in real-time monitoring of food quality and extending shelf life sustainably. Anthocyanins (ACN S ), natural pigments well recognized for their pH-responsive color changes, strong antioxidant capacity, and intrinsic antimicrobial activity, offer a compelling bio-based solution for the development of intelligent packaging systems. This review systematically examines the emerging, transformative role of ACN S in intelligent packaging. It critically examines their unique dual functionality as real-time visual indicators of freshness/spoilage and as active agents that enhance food preservation. The analysis encompasses the structural basis of ACN S’ pH sensitivity and bioactivity, their compatibility with sustainable biopolymer matrices for film formulation, and evaluates the latest technological advancements enabling their application. The review highlights significant innovations, including ACN-based indicators for protein-rich food spoilage, antioxidant-releasing coatings that mitigate lipid oxidation, and nanotechnology-driven encapsulation strategies for controlled release and enhanced stability. Cutting-edge developments such as 3D-printed ACN composites and IoT-integrated ACN sensor systems demonstrate substantial potential to bridge lab-scale research with industrial scalability. However, challenges related to ACN’ S stability under environmental conditions and regulatory frameworks for commercialization persist. Strategies such as chemical modification, encapsulation, and co-pigmentation offer promising avenues to enhance stability and modulate responsiveness. ACN S -based intelligent packaging represents a significant paradigm shift towards multifunctional, eco-friendly solutions that can synergistically enhance food safety and quality and align with critical global sustainability goals.