Abstract

Heavy metal contamination of food via lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and chromium (Cr), represents a persistent global public health crisis, with food packaging materials themselves serving as a documented contamination source through diffusion, leaching, and chemical interaction migration mechanisms. This review systematically examines emerging smart and sustainable packaging technologies designed to prevent, detect, and remediate heavy metal contamination. Active packaging strategies (chelating agents, metal-scavenging biopolymer films, adsorbent systems, antioxidant-releasing materials) are evaluated alongside intelligent packaging technologies (colorimetric sensors, nanomaterial biosensors, IoT/RFID real-time monitoring). The role of nanotechnology in amplifying active and sensing performance is critically assessed, with attention to nanotoxicity concerns and evolving regulatory frameworks. Sustainable alternatives such as polylactic acid (PLA), starch, cellulose, chitosan, proteins, and PHAs are evaluated for combined food safety and environmental benefits supported by life cycle assessment. Applications across dairy, seafood, fruits and vegetables, beverages, and processed foods are discussed with reference to experimental findings and commercial case studies.

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Funding