With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, all industries that need to maintain microbiologically safe environments have shown a renewed interest in antimicrobial coatings and their application. This is evidenced by the number of scientific, industry-related, and regulatory agency publications since 2020. A significant increase has also been seen in the number of companies that develop, manufacture, and sell these products. Antimicrobial coatings are being used in the food sector, primarily in food processing, dairy, and large-scale production, as well as in the utensils and containers used in these processes.
More recently, antimicrobial coatings are being used in ready-to-eat deli meat packaging. The regulatory community has observed as antimicrobial coatings and antimicrobial surfaces have been introduced into the retail food marketplace. These products are being used in both public and food production areas as an adjunct to regular sanitation protocols, with little guidance and virtually no background information, with the exception of the product labeling.