Knowing whether food has spoiled without even opening the container

A color-coded smart tag could tell consumers whether a carton of milk has turned sour or a can of green beans has spoiled without opening the containers, according to researchers. The tag, which would appear on the packaging, also could be used to determine if medications and other perishable products were still active or fresh, they said.

This report on the color-changing food deterioration tags was presented today as part of the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.

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[carolhu]

Hello Dr. Zhang,

I am Chinese currently studying MSc Strategic Marketing in Imperial College London. I am so impressed by the Smart tag,  which inspired a long list of ideas in my mind. Would you mind I asking some questions about its application?

(1) This tag's ingredients are predesigned for different foods in accordance with their life cycles, is there any chemical stability problem? ie, whether the tag ingredients will interact with the surroundings or vary in different storage contexts, then how can your ensure this type of error is removed?  I trust the product is safe and effective, but how can we ensure it is 100% accurate and independent upon any contextual variables? 

(2)  In reality, the food or medicines must have expiry date printed on the containers. Normally before the expiry date the Smart tags are actually useless, while near to the expiry date there are 2 scenarios: the tag turns to green after the expiry date, or before the expiry date.
    If it is AFTER the expiry date and the foods are still in the shelf, consumers may prefer not to buy it. If the food is already bought by customers, some people may be confused. Others may trust the Smart tags, but the thing is the Smart tag must be highly accurate in all contexts.
    If the tag turns to green BEFORE the expiry date, who will buy the products? should customer trust the tag or the expiry date? Will these unsold foods cause loss to the producers?
However, in all the cases, only when the tag turns to green AFTER the expiry date and when customers trust the tag accuracy more than the expiry date, then will the tag creates benefit to the market. How do you persuade the food manufacturers to integrate the tag in all packages if it sometimes creates no value for them? 

(3) what kinds of markets are you going to explore? B2B food/medicine manufacturers? Considering that Chinese food security has long been a debated issue, are you going to focus on China or all international markets? Do you have any specific plan for UK market? 

(4) I am currently participating a Marketing Plan Competition sponsored by Imperial College Business School. This project encourages students to think of valuable ideas that are innovative and valuable to the market. I am always thinking about a similar solution to food waste as your invention,  so it is significantly exciting to see this great product. In light that the product has already been patented in China, I am wondering would you mind that my team use your product idea in the Marketing Plan Competition undertaking from now to the end of June. We will only use it as a prototype idea in the business plan, marketing analytics, and no real commercials involved. You will have absolute free access to all documents involving your product, and free access to all market research and business plan we do for this new ideas. 


Best regards,

Carol (胡源泉）

[Guatamex]

Anyway to get in contact with the inventors? I have a business idea that I know will be a hit especially around holidays. Very simple, very easy product in mind.

[Carlos]

Where can I find technical details and how can I contact the inventors?

[troyloveland]

Please let me know if you would be interested in having assistance in spreading the product throughout the United States!