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Una 'etiqueta inteligente' determinará la frescura de la carne envasadaThrough a color indicator, the consumer may know the extent of the deterioration of the product
A 'smart label' will determine the freshness of packaged meat
Drafting Interempresas28/01/2009
January 28, 2009
A team of scientists of the Research Institute of chemical Molecular applied (IQMA) of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) works at the moment in a project of national research, which is working with researchers at the
technological Institute of packaging, transport and logistics (Itene). The objective is to develop a 'smart label' which will allow to know the degree of freshness of meat packaged food. The project has a duration of two years and will conclude at the end of 2009.
These 'smart tags' will help to have more control over the organoleptic and microbiological quality of meat products. More specifically, they will help you to know about the quality of products derived from chicken and sausage frescoes, such as, for example, the fresh sausages.
Thus, through an indicator color, consumer can instantly know the degree of deterioration of the product. In the project, funded by the Ministry of science and innovation, it participates in addition the company meat Serrano.
Indicator of freshness
The indicators colorimetric work of UPV and Itene experts will be printed in the own material of the packaging or on substrates optimized and likely to be later attached to the packaging, this being one of the main developments of the project. "While it is true that there are currently indicating devices of freshness, they usually appear in sticker form, and are therefore susceptible to rid of the package throughout the entire distribution cycle because that is not protected", affecting him the humidity, temperature, dirt, the friction, etc. ", aim from the IQMA." The new smart container that is being developed in this project will avoid these problems.
Itene researchers added: "The project will develop an indicator of freshness that can become easily printable on the packaging so that in this way you can have a global application of low-cost for the food industry".
These 'smart tags' will help to know in detail the quality of products derived from chicken and fresh meats. Photo: Asif Akbar.
State of health of the product
By changing the visual, easily discernible by the human eye, the indicator will show if the product is contaminated or not in high microbial proportions by the reaction of the indicator with certain volatile metabolites such as ammonia, biogenic amineshydrogen sulfide or short-chain acids. By way of example, this study was carried out on containers containing chicken. This is, without doubt, a step in the field of smart packaging, already considered the packaging of the future", commented the researchers of the UPV.
Thus, through this visual variation, you can get to alert consumers and the food industry on the State of the product, assuring in this way, proper maintenance and quality and guaranteeing an optimal distributionstorage and conservation of the same. In this way the State of health of the content of the package may certify ensuring its quality during the entire distribution, being own container which, in the event of pollution or degradation of the product, report on the danger of their consumption.
Tool for the consumerAccording to from the IQMA, problems with products derived from chicken, the sausages and meat products in general is that when compounds generated by the denaturation of proteins to be detected by humansIt usually means that the product is in a very advanced deterioration level. Therefore, it is of special interest for the consumer have a tool to report the presence of these compounds in previous phases (freshness indicators), in order to meet the microbiological status and the quality of the product to be purchased.
For its part, Itene researchers say: "the development of communicative elements that monitor or control the quality or the organoleptic characteristics of food products is a new current which is currently in phase of study and development." "Today, there are some examples of this technology (FreshTag, SensorQ, etc.) in the market, but need further study not only in new forms of control, but also as regards the form of integration of these devices on containers in order to improve their sensitivity to increase the reliability of response".
Itene researchers involved in the project of the 'smart label' packaged fresh meat.
Related Companies or Entities
Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística - Itene
