Silver Embedded Plastic Packaging can Form Harmful Nanoparticles in Foods Written by AZoNanoFeb 4 2021 Antimicrobial packaging is created to prolong the shelf life and ensure the safety of foods and beverages. But there is a concern regarding the leaching of possibly detrimental materials, like silver nanoparticles, from these kinds of containers into consumables. Large aggregations of silver nanoparticles form when dissolved silver is added to a sugary soft drink. Image Credit: Adapted from ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2021, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c17867. Scientists have now described in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces that silver combined in an antimicrobial plastic can leach from the material and develop nanoparticles in foods and beverages, specifically in sweet and sugary foods.