Reducing waste and food poisoning - new developments in smart packaging displays food freshness

Strathclyde University in Glasgow (UK) is researching the possibility of using ‘intelligent plastics’ that change color when food inside the packaging is no longer fresh.  The research, which is being funded by the Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept Program, was prompted by statistics that show 8.3 million tonnes of food is wasted in the UK each year, and more than 1 million people in the country catch food poisoning from eating food that has ‘gone off’.
 
Freshness indicators currently in use take the form of a label within the packaging, which is costly, so the new concept is to make the indicator an integral part of packaging, thereby reducing costs.  Known as ‘modified atmosphere packaging’ it will keep food in specially created conditions that prolong its shelf life by restricting the growth of harmful organisms.
 
A spokesman for the research team stated: ‘We hope this new packaging will resolve potential confusion over ‘sell-by’ and ‘best-before’ dates, and highlight the need for food to be stored in refrigerators that are properly sealed.  If successful, the new packaging will be a major benefit to the meat and seafood industries.