Coacervation as a Novel Method of Microencapsulation of Essential Oils—A Review

These days, consumers are increasingly “nutritionally aware”. The trend of “clean label” is gaining momentum. Synthetic additives and preservatives, as well as natural ones, bearing the E symbol are more often perceived negatively. For this reason, substances of natural origin are sought tfor replacing them. Essential oils can be such substances. However, the wider use of essential oils in the food industry is severely limited. This is because these substances are highly sensitive to light, oxygen, and temperature. This creates problems with their processing and storage. In addition, they have a strong smell and taste, which makes them unacceptable when added to the product. The solution to this situation seems to be microencapsulation through complex coacervation. To reduce the loss of essential oils and the undesirable chemical changes that may occur during their spray drying—the most commonly used method—complex coacervation seems to be an interesting alternative. This article collects information on the limitations of the use of essential oils in food and proposes a solution through complex coacervation with plant proteins and chia mucilage.