Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Active packaging is an innovative system that actively interacts with the food product or the internal packaging headspace to extend shelf-life, maintain quality, or improve safety.
Unlike passive packaging, which only acts as an inert barrier, active packaging dynamically absorbs or releases substances.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The most common and commercially successful active packaging technologies are gas scavengers and emitters:
- \(\text{O}_2\) Scavengers: These chemically remove oxygen from the package headspace, preventing lipid oxidation, aerobic microbial spoilage, and enzymatic browning.
- \(\text{CO}_2\) Scavengers/Emitters: These maintain appropriate carbon dioxide levels to inhibit microbial growth or prevent package collapse.
Therefore, \(\text{CO}_2\) & \(\text{O}_2\) scavengers are classic examples of active packaging components.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (D).