Nanocomposites are promising materials for use in food packaging applications as practical and safe substitutes to traditional packaging plastics. This review discusses the potential of nanotechnology for food packaging, focusing on the use of nanostructured materials for the development of packaging with antimicrobial properties. Special emphasis is placed on the incorporation of nanostructures as vehicles for natural antimicrobials in food packaging, including examples of recent studies demonstrating the use of nanostructured materials to improve food safety and shelf-life. Nanocomposites are developed by incorporating various nanofillers into polymeric matrices to enhance mechanical, thermal, optical, and barrier properties. Common nanofillers include nanoclays, nanosilica, carbon nanotubes, nanocellulose, and chitosan/chitin nanoparticles. These nanocomposites have been used to create antimicrobial packaging materials with enhanced properties, such as improved barrier properties, antimicrobial activity, and oxygen scavenging capabilities. Active nanocomposite packaging allows interaction with food and the environment, playing a dynamic role in food preservation by including antimicrobial systems, oxygen scavengers, and immobilized enzymes. Intelligent nanocomposite packaging includes nanodevices in the polymer matrix that can control the state of packaged foods or the surrounding environment. Nanocomposites have been developed using conventional plastic polymers and nanomaterials to improve the properties of packaging or the conservation of the product. These materials include nanoclays, carbon nanotubes, silica nanoparticles, cellulose or chitin nanowhiskers. The incorporation of nanoclay into poly(lactic acid) films has been shown to improve barrier properties against water vapor migration, reducing diffusion by more than 22%. Antimicrobial nanocomposites have been developed using various antimicrobial substances such as essential oils, bacteriocins, antimicrobial enzymes, or metallic nanoparticles. These active nanocomposites are useful packaging materials to enhance food safety. The use of nanotechnology in food packaging has the potential to improve the mechanical, thermal, barrier, and functional properties of packaging materials. Nanocomposite films containing antimicrobial substances such as essential oils, bacteriocins, antimicrobial enzymes, or metallic nanoparticles have been developed. These active nanocomposites are useful packaging materials to enhance food safety. The incorporation of nanostructures as vehicles for natural antimicrobials in food packaging has been shown to improve food safety and shelf-life. The use of nanotechnology in food packaging has the potential to improve the mechanical, thermal, barrier, and functional properties of packaging materials.Nanocomposites are promising materials for use in food packaging applications as practical and safe substitutes to traditional packaging plastics. This review discusses the potential of nanotechnology for food packaging, focusing on the use of nanostructured materials for the development of packaging with antimicrobial properties. Special emphasis is placed on the incorporation of nanostructures as vehicles for natural antimicrobials in food packaging, including examples of recent studies demonstrating the use of nanostructured materials to improve food safety and shelf-life. Nanocomposites are developed by incorporating various nanofillers into polymeric matrices to enhance mechanical, thermal, optical, and barrier properties. Common nanofillers include nanoclays, nanosilica, carbon nanotubes, nanocellulose, and chitosan/chitin nanoparticles. These nanocomposites have been used to create antimicrobial packaging materials with enhanced properties, such as improved barrier properties, antimicrobial activity, and oxygen scavenging capabilities. Active nanocomposite packaging allows interaction with food and the environment, playing a dynamic role in food preservation by including antimicrobial systems, oxygen scavengers, and immobilized enzymes. Intelligent nanocomposite packaging includes nanodevices in the polymer matrix that can control the state of packaged foods or the surrounding environment. Nanocomposites have been developed using conventional plastic polymers and nanomaterials to improve the properties of packaging or the conservation of the product. These materials include nanoclays, carbon nanotubes, silica nanoparticles, cellulose or chitin nanowhiskers. The incorporation of nanoclay into poly(lactic acid) films has been shown to improve barrier properties against water vapor migration, reducing diffusion by more than 22%. Antimicrobial nanocomposites have been developed using various antimicrobial substances such as essential oils, bacteriocins, antimicrobial enzymes, or metallic nanoparticles. These active nanocomposites are useful packaging materials to enhance food safety. The use of nanotechnology in food packaging has the potential to improve the mechanical, thermal, barrier, and functional properties of packaging materials. Nanocomposite films containing antimicrobial substances such as essential oils, bacteriocins, antimicrobial enzymes, or metallic nanoparticles have been developed. These active nanocomposites are useful packaging materials to enhance food safety. The incorporation of nanostructures as vehicles for natural antimicrobials in food packaging has been shown to improve food safety and shelf-life. The use of nanotechnology in food packaging has the potential to improve the mechanical, thermal, barrier, and functional properties of packaging materials.