The food supply chain is a complex multi-stage system encompassing production, processing, preservation, storage, packaging, transportation, consumption and other phases. In this process, ensuring the safety and quality at every stage is crucial, especially in cross-border transportation where long transit times tend to increase the risk of food spoilage. To extend the shelf life of food products, food packaging plays an increasingly vital role as it can effectively protect food from contamination and moisture damage. Traditional packaging materials have gradually become unable to meet the demands of the times, as the raw materials used in their production contribute to environmental pollution. Thus, new eco-friendly materials have emerged, which not only offer cost-saving advantages but also align better with the requirements of sustainable development.

Nevertheless, food waste and food poisoning caused by food spoilage remain pressing global challenges to be addressed. Studies indicate that approximately one-third of the world's food production is ultimately wasted, with improper preservation and packaging often being the root causes. In recent years, with the rise of nanotechnology, the application of nanomaterials has become a new development trend. Materials such as graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes act as highly efficient adsorbents, capable of effectively removing harmful substances generated during food transportation; meanwhile, materials like titanium dioxide, silver and silicon dioxide extend food shelf life significantly by imparting antibacterial properties to packaging. Despite these advances, the exploration of new packaging materials has never ceased, with innovative materials continuously being integrated into the global food supply chain.

The incorporation of MOFs into packaging materials endows the latter with robust antibacterial properties. For instance, ZIF-8 Mof Nanoparticles have been successfully integrated into chitosan-based polymers. Studies have demonstrated that the resulting material not only possesses good hydrophobicity but also boasts high mechanical strength. Maintaining an appropriate moisture content is key to preserving food freshness and inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi. Materials containing ZIF-8 MOF have achieved 100% inhibition rates against common pathogenic bacteria such asStaphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Certain chemical substances, particularly ethylene gas, are closely associated with the ripening process of fresh produce. Ethylene accelerates plant metabolic rates, causes tissue softening, and subsequently promotes aging, ripening and deterioration. Therefore, if ethylene gas is not effectively removed during transportation and storage, the shelf life of agricultural products will be drastically shortened. As adsorbents, MOFs exhibit remarkable ethylene adsorption capacity. For example, in one study, copper-based MOFs showed an ethylene adsorption capacity four times higher than that of zeolites, a traditional adsorbent.

The moisture and oxygen levels inside packaging directly impact the shelf life of food products. Moisture and oxygen participate in oxidation reactions, leading to rapid food spoilage. Although filling food packaging with inert gas is a common deoxygenation method, residual moisture and oxygen still exist due to the potential adsorption of air and moisture by the food itself. As moisture and oxygen scavengers, MOFs have been successfully applied in various fields. For example, the addition of Mof-801 significantly enhances the water penetration resistance of films and enables moisture adsorption even at a relative humidity as low as 20%, thereby extending food shelf life remarkably.

Food safety often poses a daunting challenge for end consumers. Misleading labels are prevalent in the market, causing considerable confusion among consumers. Therefore, establishing intelligent and standardized identification methods to detect mislabeled food products is of great significance for improving the transparency of food production. In response to this demand, another unique property of MOFs—luminescence—has been applied in an innovative manner.

By combining MOFs with luminescent elements such as Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Dy³⁺, invisible labels with RGB luminescent properties can be designed. These labels can be widely applied to food packaging, enhancing safety and traceability.

As multifunctional materials, MOFs possess a range of outstanding properties, including:

The applications of MOFs extend far beyond the field of food packaging; they also hold enormous potential in toxic substance detection, safety monitoring and sanitation treatment.