Quality Indicator for Intelligent Food Packaging

现代粮食分配系统高度复杂，其特点往往是由粮食生产者处理大量粮食产品。这一趋势，以及消费者对高质量和低加工产品的偏好，导致人们越来越关注食品的安全和质量。虽然保质期仍然被广泛用于食品包装上作为新鲜度的指标，但这些静态信息并不有效，因为它们不能真实反映产品的质量，也没有考虑到在配送过程中可能发生的物理、化学和微生物滥用。 为了解决这些问题，拟议的项目将开发包装结构(如标签、印刷)不可或缺的先进指标，以揭示食品的实时质量和安全。我们将利用由纳米纤维或纳米载体制成的阵列指示器，重点检测由变质的食品或腐败微生物产生的挥发性化合物。我们的目标是开发一种提供视觉反馈的指标，以告知消费者产品的总体可接受性。进一步扩大这一概念，通过使用便携式阅读设备，如手机摄像头，我们的目标也是开发一种阵列指示器，可以提供有关腐败性质的更具体信息，如涉及的微生物。 从食品生产商的角度来看，设想的技术有利于防止消费者购买不可接受的产品，以保护品牌名称，并确保持续的客户版税。此外，及早发现受损害的产品将是至关重要的，以防止在发生伤害时代价高昂的产品召回和诉讼。从公共卫生的角度来看，有必要在整个分销链中快速、可靠地检测到受危害的产品，这将有助于防止食源性疾病的爆发。使用动态新鲜度指示器，而不是静态的过期日期标签，可以减少食物浪费，间接地为加拿大带来经济、环境和健康方面的好处。可想而知，该指示剂可在实验室环境中用作快速分析的试剂盒。

Modern food distribution systems are highly complex and often characterized by large quantities of food product handled by food producers. This trend, along with consumer preference for highly quality and minimally processed products, has resulted in growing concerns on the safety and quality of foods. Although expiry dates are still widely being used on food packages as indicators of freshness, these static information are not efficient since they do not truly reflect the quality of the product, nor do they take into the account of potential physicochemical and microbiological abuses occurred during distribution. To address these issues, the proposed project will develop advanced indicators that are integral of package structure (e.g., labels, prints), to reveal the real time quality and safety of the food products. We will focus on the detection of volatile compounds produce by deteriorating food products or spoilage microorganisms, by using array indicators fabricated from nanofiber or nanobead carriers. Our goal is to develop an indicator that provides visual feedback to inform consumer on the overall acceptability of the products. Expanding this concept further, by using a portable reading device, such as a cell phone camera, our goal is also to develop an array indicator that could provide more specific information on the nature of spoilage, such as the microorganisms involved. From the perspective of a food producer, the envisaged technology is beneficial to prevent consumers from purchasing unacceptable products to protect brand name and assure continuous customer royalty. Also, early detection of compromised products will be essential to prevent costly product recall and lawsuit when injury occurred. From a public health standpoint, there is a need to detect compromised products rapidly and reliably throughout the distribution chain, which will be beneficial to prevent the outbreak of food borne illnesses. The use of dynamic freshness indicator, rather than static expiry date label, could result in the reduction of food waste, indirectly bringing economical, environmental, and health benefits in Canada. Conceivably, the indicator can be adopted as test kits for rapid analysis in laboratory setting.