*Overview of Food Antimicrobial Packaging DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108666*

modified atmosphere or vacuum inside the package for as long as possible, hindering gas diffusion through the material and damage from external forces. This happens through a layered composition of selected distinct polymer films [63]. A multilayered composition should provide improved food protection during storage. MAP packaging and vacuum typically comprises of low-density polyethylene (PE-LD), linear low-density polyethylene (PE-LLD), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) as an oxygen barrier [63, 64]. PE films as flexible materials are often used to maintain a moisture barrier. PET is used as a semi-effective gas and moisture barrier that imparts rigidity and strength to the packaging [64]. There are two common methods for producing multilayer packaging materials: layer-by-layer deposition and coextrusion methods. In the layer-by-layer technique, the layers may be formed one by one. It is important that each layer is chemically or physically bonded to each other to form the multilayer film. In the coextrusion method, polymers or biopolymers with different properties may be combined. The good adhesion of layers and the appropriate controlling of the thickness are the advantages of coextrusion techniques. In this technology, the packaging materials are coextruded together through separate screws. Therefore, these polymers/biopolymers would not be mixed and the final coextrudes would have a layered structure [55]. It should be noted that multilayer packaging can consist of even up to 11 ultra-thin layers offering different barrier properties [53]. In addition, the combination of different, blended, or multilayered polymer films which are used as food packaging, pose a particular challenge for recycling because there are made up of a large group of polymers [65]. Multilayer packaging cannot be recycled using traditional recycling technologies, because these technologies exist to recycle single-component plastics. Multilayer plastics have become a waste stream, additionally contaminated with food and other impurities. Another disadvantage is that they are in most cases nonbiodegradable. The accumulation of a packaging waste stream may lead to an environmental health crisis characterized by the accumulation of plastic waste in oceans [64].
