Smart wrapping developed to detect 'off food'

[Maggy J]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-west-12128120

A new generation of smart packaging - which flags up when food is going off - is being developed in Glasgow.
Researchers from Strathclyde University are working on indicators made from "intelligent plastics" which change colour when food loses its freshness.

What is annoying about that article is that it says

The Strathclyde University team hopes new smart wrapping will alert consumers when food is about to lose its freshness because it has broken or damaged packaging, has exceeded its "best before" date or has been poorly refrigerated.

When it is food with a 'Use By' date that the concept is aimed at.

Especially when it then goes on to say

The Strathclyde team believes its work could resolve potential confusion about the different significances of "best before" dates and "sell-by" dates.

It will be a good thing if it can alert consumers to products which have been poorly refrigerated - but then the question will be at which point in the distribution chain did that temperature 'abuse' occur.

Knowing, as I do, people who will throw away food past its 'best before' date, let alone 'Use By' I wonder how many people will be prepared to let a product go a few days past its life if the packaging hasn't changed colour?

[Taf]

So what colour will railway sandwich wrappings be?

[Rob]

All very well so long as it doesn't add more cost to the product and is environmentally friendly. We need to find ways of reducing packaging.

One also assumes that if this is to be in contact with foodstuffs it will be safe. We don't want to find in 20 years time that it's added more nasties into our fod chain.

[Angua]

It seems we have all lost our sense of smell. Always the best (and probably most accurate) indicator of freshness. If it doesn't smell right then you shouldn't eat it. Manufacturers understandably have to err on the side of caution, but a bit of common sense by consumers would see far less food wasted.

[Maggy J]

I just wish it wasn't plastic packaging..seems to me we should be stepping away from plastics altogether.

Think of all those unopened still sealed plastic containers of food buried in land fills all over the country.Real time bombs of infection..

[cookie_365]

Originally Posted by Angua

It seems we have all lost our sense of smell. Always the best (and probably most accurate) indicator of freshness. If it doesn't smell right then you shouldn't eat it. Manufacturers understandably have to err on the side of caution, but a bit of common sense by consumers would see far less food wasted.

It's so you can open the fridge and see what's getting a bit old straight away.

Originally Posted by cookie_365

It's so you can open the fridge and see what's getting a bit old straight away.

Which is good - provided the customer doesn't try complaining to the retailer that 'xyx product' says use by Thursday & the packaging changed colour Tuesday & I want a refund .... imagine ...

- what temperature is your fridge running at Mr/Mrs customer?

I don't know but the packaging has changed colour & It isn't good enough, I want a refund. Your milk always goes off early, too ..

-Did you leave the product out on the side in the kitchen before you put it in the fridge Mr/Mrs customer?

Of course I did the baby was crying and then the 'phone rang, I don't have time to do everything, at once, you know...

- we may not be able to refund you this time, Mr/Mrs customer ..

Well that is disgusting, I'm never going to shop at your store again & I'm going to tell all my friends you are selling products that aren't safe to eat ....

[v0id]

if it's green and has fur growing from it, then it's time for the bin

Originally Posted by v0id

if it's green and has fur growing from it, then it's time for the bin

not if it is cheese - you can cut the mould off the surface, the rest is perfectly edible....

[Caff]

Originally Posted by gazfan

Which is good - provided the customer doesn't try complaining to the retailer that 'xyx product' says use by Thursday & the packaging changed colour Tuesday & I want a refund .... imagine ...

- what temperature is your fridge running at Mr/Mrs customer?

I don't know but the packaging has changed colour & It isn't good enough, I want a refund. Your milk always goes off early, too ..

-Did you leave the product out on the side in the kitchen before you put it in the fridge Mr/Mrs customer?

Of course I did the baby was crying and then the 'phone rang, I don't have time to do everything, at once, you know...

- we may not be able to refund you this time, Mr/Mrs customer ..

Well that is disgusting, I'm never going to shop at your store again & I'm going to tell all my friends you are selling products that aren't safe to eat ....

In a similar vein:
"Hello - yes.
I've just had a tray of chilled produce delivered that I didn't order and haven't paid for so I've put it in the fridge - could a driver pick it up please?"
"No we can't guarantee the state of your fridge - you can keep them them and thank you for your call."
"Then please pass my comments onto the home grocery shopping manager - thank you "

Grrr - but I get their point.

A minefield indeed.

---------- Post added at 00:36 ---------- Previous post was at 00:33 ----------

Originally Posted by gazfan

not if it is cheese - you can cut the mould off the surface, the rest is perfectly edible....

Yak, yak, yak and ew
i don't even like the thought of the cheese that has blue veins forced on it

Originally Posted by Caff

In a similar vein:
"Hello - yes.
I've just had a tray of chilled produce delivered that I didn't order and haven't paid for so I've put it in the fridge - could a driver pick it up please?"
"No we can't guarantee the state of your fridge - you can keep them them and thank you for your call."
"Then please pass my comments onto the home grocery shopping manager - thank you "

Grrr - but I get their point.

this will just be charged to the supplier ...

Yak, yak, yak and ew
i don't even like the thought of the cheese that has blue veins forced on it

Cheese is milk that has 'gone off' - a little bit of furry stuff or blue veins doesn't really hurt too much on top of that

[Caff]

Originally Posted by gazfan

this will just be charged to the supplier ...



Cheese is milk that has 'gone off' - a little bit of furry stuff or blue veins doesn't really hurt too much on top of that

When some of it smells THAT bad - I'll reach for something less powerful



(Just to be silly...
why does soured cream have a sell/use-by date??? ;D )

Thanks for your explaination.

Originally Posted by Caff

When some of it smells THAT bad - I'll reach for something less powerful



(Just to be silly...
why does soured cream have a sell/use-by date??? ;D )

Thanks for your explaination.

ok it is complicated - sour milk involves bacteria usually called Lactobacillus - which can have the ability to inhibit the growth of other (potentially more harmful) bacteria. They do this by turning the lactose (milk sugar) in the milk into lactic acid.

However, while the resulting sour cream, yogurt, creme fraiche, etc, product tends to have an extended shelf life compared to the milk that made it, it can, eventually, be susceptible to spoilage by other types of bacteria, especially those that thrive in 'low oxygen' environments - and these will tend to metabolise the protein, rather than the sugars in the product.

- these types of bacteria are more likely to produce the really stinky & poisonous effects that you wouldn't want to eat - so the shelf life/use by date, is designed to make sure you eat the product before that happens.

[Caff]

Originally Posted by gazfan

ok it is complicated - sour milk involves bacteria usually called Lactobacillus - which can have the ability to inhibit the growth of other (potentially more harmful) bacteria. They do this by turning the lactose (milk sugar) in the milk into lactic acid.

However, while the resulting sour cream, yogurt, creme fraiche, etc, product tends to have an extended shelf life compared to the milk that made it, it can then be susceptible to spoilage by other types of bacteria, especially those that thrive in 'low oxygen' environments - and these will tend to metabolise the protein, rather than the sugars in the product.

- these types of bacteria are more likely to produce the really stinky & poisonous effects that you wouldn't want to eat - so the shelf life/use by date, is designed to make sure you eat the product before that happens.

I thought you might go all biologiy and chemistry on me

And thank you so much for your considered response. And I'm getting my head round the detail.

I thought the process of conversion of protein to dextrose-and-beyond was complicated enough!