Food sensors: Off‐package and on‐package approaches

Abstract Food sensors are an emerging technology used in food quality monitoring and safety, potentially decreasing food loss and waste and protecting the health of consumers. Food sensors integrated into intelligent packaging systems are promising to enhance food shelf‐life during transportation, distribution, storage, and selling. In this review, the role of food sensors in the intelligent packaging system, their developments, and challenges are discussed. First, we discuss the motivation behind food sensors in the food quality and safety management system, followed by the background of the intelligent packaging development and factors involved in the food properties monitoring. Then, food sensor approaches, both on‐package and off‐package sensors, were discussed. Following, the examples of potential food sensors integrated into a packaging system, which allows monitoring food quality and safety, were also described, followed by several strategies to monitor premature food spoilage. Finally, the prospects of an on‐package sensor as a smart packaging and related challenges are addressed.