Packaging developed to warn of spoilt content
The smart plastic packaging detects when meat, fish or salad leaves have passed their use-by date or have been left out of the fridge for too long
London: An intelligent food wrapping that changes colour if the contents are going bad has been created by scientists.
The smart plastic packaging detects when meat, fish or salad leaves have passed their use-by date or have been left out of the fridge for too long.
It also alerts householders if sealed packaging has been broken or damaged, putting the contents at risk.
The British scientists behind the intelligent wrap believe it will reduce unnecessary household waste and help cut the 8.3 million tonnes of food being thrown away in the UK every year. It will also help people uncertain about best-before and use-by dates on food and reassure those who gamble with the dates on meat and dairy produce.
Indicator labels
Previously, scientists have developed indicator labels which are inserted into food packaging. But the new plastic is designed to be part of the wrapping itself.
It works with food such as meat, fish or salad that has been sealed in a "modified atmosphere" where levels of oxygen are reduced and replaced with inert nitrogen or carbon dioxide gases to slow natural decay.
The new plastic is designed to change colour if levels of oxygen rise above a predetermined level.
