New sensor detects spoilage of food

Scientists have developed a new sensor that detects ethanol emitted from the spoilage of foods into the head-space of a package. The sensor signal is wirelessly readable by a mobile phone, researchers said.

The information given by the sensor is transmitted from the package to the customer by means of a reader, and the data is saved digitally in a remote server.

The ethanol sensor developed by Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) can have potential in other applications, such as in alcometers, researchers said.

The sensor layer is part of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, and the sensor data can be read wirelessly using an RFID reader in, for example, a smartphone.

The sensor transmits information about the freshness of the food in the package to the retailer or customer.

The freshness data can be stored in real time in the cloud, enabling the comparison of food quality with its previous or later condition.

A similar optical readout based on the colour change of the ethanol sensor was also developed for a smartphone, researchers said.

The sensor and the RFID tag can be manufactured into a label or sticker and easily attached to a food package.

The price of the sensor will then be low enough for use in food packages, researchers said.

Using the sensor, it will be possible to control the food quality throughout the distribution chain and to prevent waste caused by spoilage.