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Consumer concerns about food and plastic packaging waste have led government and industry to seek alternatives prioritizing the environment while keeping safety, quality, shelf-life, and price. These consumer concerns were examined with a focus on fabrication technologies, current and proposed applications, and consumer acceptance of edible coatings, biodegradable packaging, and nanomaterials. A survey (N = 441) analyzed responses by subpopulations (generation, location, education level, and food-related careers). Consumers prioritize quality (95%), price (83%), and nutritional value (74%), but willingness to consume and pay extra for them varied by generation and location. Younger consumers showed openness to new technologies, indicating an attractive potential niche market for edible coatings. Positive comments highlighted environmental, health, and shelf-life benefits, while concerns include aversion towards new technologies and health risks. Biodegradable packaging is widely accepted, presenting business opportunities to meet sustainable demands, though cost and quality worries remain. Addressing these concerns is crucial for broader adoption. Highlights: Key purchase factors for packaged food products are quality, price, and nutritional value Baby boomers' show a lower willingness to consume foods with edible coatings Willingness to consume edible coatings varies with geographical location Environment, health, curiosity, quality, & shelf-life drive positive edible coating/nanoparticles views Food safety, new technology aversion, and price drive negative edible coating/nanoparticles views [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time‐temperature data for queso fresco (QF) cheese varieties stored in a residential refrigerator operating at 5°C and a predictive microbiology secondary model for Listeria monocytogenes in QF were used to estimate a refrigerator performance indicator (RPI) of microbial preservation. RPI values were used to assess how compressor technology (single [SS] and variable speed [VS]), ambient temperature (21.1°C [LT] and 32.2°C [HT]), and refrigerator load (22.5 kg regular load and 39 kg higher load) affected preservation performance. All deterministic and probabilistic RPI estimations slightly exceeded the desirable 1.0 value, i.e., the variable temperatures for the QF kept in the refrigerator were worse than keeping it constantly at the temperature recommended by food safety agencies for QF. Furthermore, the mean comparison of estimates of the time‐temperature equivalent indicator previously developed by French researchers showed similar behavior to those observed for RPI. Finally, statistical analysis showed that Tambient was the factor with the highest impact on refrigerator performance because of its impact on the sample temperature increase during door openings and when exposed to ambient temperature during product use. This highlights the need to reduce the time for product temperature recovery by improving the compressor operation logic. Also important are consumer behavior changes such as a reduction in product exposure to ambient temperature and in the door opening duration and frequency. Practical Application: This study demonstrated how a quantitative tool (RPI) can assess refrigerator preservation performance. Although the findings presented can be applied to any cold chain segment, the data used was collected for its weakest link, the domestic refrigerator. Surveys show that 77% of them operate above the recommended 4°C. The RPI methodology is ready for use by refrigerator designers to assess performance improvements possible by modifications of the compressor operation logic. Moreover, it can be integrated into smart‐hubs monitoring the frequency and duration of refrigerator door openings to inform consumers when their habits are compromising the preservation performance of the refrigerator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]