Sensor warns of food intake by color

Scientists have developed a miniaturized sensor, which turns the color of food, such as milk, to deterioration, helping the owner know when the food or beverage has been degraded to the point of use. more. This invention is expected to replace the termination of the packaging for future products.

>>> Video: sensor warning food limit by color

Special colored patches are smaller in size than nails. It contains a gel that is a mixture of metals and chemicals, including tiny gold pieces, a silver compound and vitamin C.

At present, the new invention team creates a color sensor prototype dedicated to dairy products. In experiments, when newly attached to the milk carton, the gel is red, but will turn color over time as its components react to each other.

The color conversion rate corresponds to the growth rate of E coli causing food poisoning at different temperatures. When the sensor turns green, it means the bacteria have grown in sufficient quantities to make the milk spoil.

Dr. Chao Zhang of the Beijing University, China, said that color sensors can be adjusted to monitor the freshness and quality of other foods and beverages. even medications. In addition to monitoring the growth rate of E. coli in milk, the sensor pads can be programmed to control the growth of other microorganisms, causing product degradation.

According to Dr. Zhang, the advantage of color sensors is that they are cheap and just need to be attached to the outside of the packaging. Just looking at the color of the sensor, we will know whether the product can be used anymore and how much it has been degraded.

Color sensors are considered by many analysts to be a breakthrough invention that can help consumers monitor product quality more closely than the usual shelf life of packaging.