The use of antibiotics had reached a plateau due to antibiotic resistance, overuse, and residue. Bacteriophages have recently attracted considerable attention as alternative biocontrol agents. Here, we provide an up-to-date overview of phage applications in the food industry. We reviewed recently reported phages against ten typical foodborne pathogens, studies of competitive phage-encoded endolysins, and the primary outcomes of phage encapsulation in food packaging and pathogen detection. Furthermore, we identified existing barriers that still need to be addressed and proposed potential solutions to overcome these obstacles in the future.
Keywords: Phage; food packing; foodborne pathogen; phage encapsulation; phage-encoded endolysin.