PROMISE: Our kitties will never sit on top of content. Please turn off your ad blocker for our site.
puuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrr
Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT
Published: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 - 12:04 When it comes to packaged fish or meat, it’s nearly impossible to distinguish between fresh goods and their inedible counterparts. Researchers have now developed a sensor film that can be integrated into the package itself, where it takes over the role of quality control. If the food has spoiled, it changes color to announce the fact. Is the vacuum-packed chicken leg really still fresh and edible? Looks alone do not tell the whole story. And the “best-before” date is no guarantee, either. Scandals involving the sale of rotten meat have added to the uncertainty, and the customer may be shortening the shelf life through improper storage. This is an area in which a sensor film developed by the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT in Munich can immediately give a green—or rather: yellow light, or warn of spoiled goods. EMFT developed the film in a project sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The sensor film is integrated into the inside of the packaging, where it responds to biogenic amines. Amines are molecules produced when foods—fish and meat foremost among them—decay. They are also responsible for the unpleasant smell. If amines are released into the air within the packaging, the indicator dye on the sensor film reacts with them and changes its color from yellow to blue. “Once a certain concentration range is reached, the color change is clearly visible and assumes the task of warning the consumer,” explains Dr. Anna Hezinger, a scientist at EMFT. This is not only interesting when it comes to identifying foods that have become inedible; many people are also extremely sensitive to the presence of certain amines, which makes a warning all the more important for them. “Unlike the expiration date, the information on the sensor film is not based on an estimate but on an actual control of the food itself,” Hezinger emphasizes. At the same time, the system is inexpensive. This is important if it is to be used on a broad scale. Other solutions—such as electronic sensors, for instance—would lead to a steep increase in the price of packaged meat. Things that come in direct contact with food products must also meet high standards. “Food safety is ensured by a barrier layer between the sensor film and the product itself. This barrier is only permeable to gaseous amines. The indicator chemicals cannot pass through,” Hezinger explains. Scientists are also working on a measurement module with a built-in sensor film. Employees in the food and packaging industries can use the module to test the freshness of food products directly. The device objectively analyzes the color response while providing a more precise result than is possible with the human eye. This also permits an exact identification of intermediate shades of color. Hezinger and her team are currently looking for partners in industry with which to further develop and produce the sensor film and measurement module. Quality Digest does not charge readers for its content. We believe that industry news is important for you to do your job, and Quality Digest supports businesses of all types. However, someone has to pay for this content. And that’s where advertising comes in. Most people consider ads a nuisance, but they do serve a useful function besides allowing media companies to stay afloat. They keep you aware of new products and services relevant to your industry. All ads in Quality Digest apply directly to products and services that most of our readers need. You won’t see automobile or health supplement ads. So please consider turning off your ad blocker for our site. Thanks, The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technology EMFT in Munich develops technologies to optimize reliable microsystem components. Its goal is to turn the institution’s R&D results from for polytronic systems, micromechanics, actuators and fluidics, si technology, and vertical system integration as well as nanomaterials and devices, quickly and efficiently into demonstrators and applied processes and services, and to make these usable by industry. New Sensor Film Tells You When Food Goes Bad
Film can be integrated into packages, where it changes color to signal spoilage
Our PROMISE: Quality Digest only displays static ads that never overlay or cover up content. They never get in your way. They are there for you to read, or not.
Quality Digest Discuss
About The Author
Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT
© 2022 Quality Digest. Copyright on content held by Quality Digest or by individual authors. Contact Quality Digest for reprint information.
“Quality Digest" is a trademark owned by Quality Circle Institute, Inc.