Intelligent Packaging

packaging that contains an external or

internal indicator to provide information
about aspects of the history of the
package and/or the quality of food
(Robertson, 2006)
Dr. Graham Moore. (July 2006). Harnessing Opportunities Offered by Emerging
Technologies.
Advantages
improved control and
maintenance of cold
chain
improved sensory
quality and safety
control
quality labels as
marketing tools
Types of Intelligent
Packaging
Product Quality
Freshness Indicators
Time Temperature Indicators
Gas Concentration Indicators
Leak Indicators
Sensors
Convenience
Thermochromic Inks
Microwave Doneness Indicators (MDIs)
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Freshness Indicators
quality or freshness indicators are used
to indicate if the quality of the product
has become unacceptable during
storage, transport, and retailing and in
consumers homes
Freshness Indicators
Ripe Sense
Works by reacting to
the aromas released by
the fruit as it ripens

sensor is initially red
and graduates to
orange and finally
yellow
Freshness Indicators
Kimchi Freshness Indicator
A color indicating film made of resin
(polypropylene), carbon dioxide absorber
(calcium hydroxide), and a chemical dye
(bromocresol purple or methyl red) which
indicates the freshness of Kimchi

Time Temperature Indicators
Provide a quick, easy, reliable way of
determining whether or not food has
undergone changes in temperature or
passed its pre-set time limit during
transport and/or storage, and therefore
is no longer safe to sell

Time Temperature Indicators
Relies on the properties of organic
pigments that change color over time
and when temperatures fluctuate
Once activated by a suitable UV light
source, the indicator becomes dark and
then grows progressively lighter as time
passes and/or the ambient temperature
rises
Time Temperature Indicators
TEMPTIME
consists of a small circle
of polymer surrounded
by a printed reference
ring
polymer gradually
deepens in color to
reflect cumulative
temperature exposure

Gas Concentration
Indicators
Internal gas label indicators are put into
the package to control the inside
atmosphere
Labels change color at the correct gas
level due to enzymatic activity
Allows fast visual check without package
destruction
Leak Indicators
Based on oxygen
sensitive dye
color change from white
to blue in the presence of
a leakage (oxygen enters
the package)
Sensors
The Food Sentinel System
A biosensor system capable of continuous
detection of pathogens in a system
A specific pathogen antibody is attached to
the membrane forming part of the barcode
Convenience
Essential element in the food industry
Easier and quicker access to better
quality foods
Thermochromic Inks
Thermochromism
ability of substance to
change color due to a
change in temperature
Thermochromic Inks
Liquid crystals
Leucodyes
its cool state, a leucodye exhibits color, and
when warmed, it turns clear or translucent
Courtesy of Color Change Corporation
Microwave Doneness Indicators
Devices which detect and visually
indicate the state of readiness of foods
heated in a microwave oven
Radio Frequency Identification
The use of radio frequencies to read
information on a small device known as
tag
Active tag
Passive tag
Any device that can be sensed at a
distance by radio frequencies with few
problems from obstruction or
disorientation
Radio Frequency
Identification
Attaching an RFID tag to a package
makes it "intelligent" because this silicon
chip functions as a mobile database,
holding valuable information, such as
the product's history, location and
destination
Radio Frequency Identification
provide much more
traceability in food
packaging than bar code
labels because the tags
can be scanned without
direct line of sight

Theft, Counterfeit and
Tampering
Food processors' objective is to create a
package that is so difficult or expensive
to imitate that counterfeiters can't
succeed, or perhaps don't even try to
create a knock-off

Theft, Counterfeit and
Tampering
Taggants
which are traceable, microscopic particles,
can be incorporated into packaging
materials such as paper, plastic resins and
films, adhesives and inks
The taggant code is a unique numeric code
sequence embodied in a multi-colored,
layered format
Theft, Counterfeit and
Tampering
AuthentiGuard VeriGlow
The package or label is printed using
invisible security ink and at the same time
encoded with hidden graphics or text. A
special light source is used to detect the
security ink's glow, and a handheld decoder
lens reveals the hidden message
Theft, Counterfeit and
Tampering
AuthentiGuard VeriGlow

Taken from:
http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2006/02
7.html?page=full
References
Robertson, G.L. (2006). Food Packaging Princples and Practice, 2
nd

edition
Dennis R. Heldman. Encyclopedia of agricultural, food, and biological
engineering
http://screenweb.com/index.php/channel/6/id/1425/
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Radio-
frequency_identification&printable=yes
http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2003/02/food_packaging.html