Scientists from Siberia have developed the first food film in Russia that kills germs on its own.

A unique food film is capable of inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, destroying almost 100% of microorganisms on its surface. The development was developed by physicists. Tomsk State University and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The problem with standard plastic packaging is that bacteria can survive in it for weeks. For example, if someone handles it with dirty hands at the store. This causes food to spoil faster and bacteria to spread more quickly from person to person.

“At the same time, manufacturers are very interested in this [antibacterial] packaging, since increasing the shelf life of products even by a day will lead to a significant reduction in economic losses,” explains a senior researcher at TSU Olga Bakina. “The technology we developed has already been patented and is ready to be transferred from the laboratory to real production.”

The secret to this development is that physicists added silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles to the film. As soon as light hits the packaging, the particles are activated and begin producing special forms of oxygen that literally burn away bacteria and mold.

By the way, tests have already confirmed that this packaging is absolutely harmless to humans!

A fungus that couldn't survive on the surface of a unique cling film. Photo: TSU Press Service