Abstract
Bacterial contamination threatens food safety by causing spoilage and foodborne illnesses, while the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the formation of bacterial biofilms further diminish the effectiveness of conventional antimicrobials. Antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-based biomaterials are gaining attention as a promising alternative with potent activity against resistant strains and biofilm formation. This review highlights recent advances in AMP-based biomaterials, including innovative conjugates with organic and inorganic materials that enhance stability, biocompatibility, and compatibility with food matrices. These multifunctional composites exhibit strong antimicrobial activity and potential applications in food packaging, preservation, and processing, and are critically assessed for their effectiveness against key foodborne pathogens. We further discuss remaining challenges, such as large-scale production and integration into complex food systems, and propose strategies to advance sustainable AMP-based technologies for food safety.