Food MArketing & Technology In India Food Marketing & Technology In India Vol 10 | Page 43

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• Time
Temperature
Indicators:
Temperature of the food product is
a significant factor which can affect
its shelf life. If the temperature of the
food is poorly maintained it may lead
to the growth of microorganisms and
ultimately spoilage of food product.
The time-temperature indicators
are generally simple, inexpensive
gadgets attached to the package. The
main function of these indicators
is to detect time and temperature
dependent mechanical, chemical,
electrochemical,
enzymatic,
or
microbiological changes of a food
product.
• Freshness
Indicators:
These
types of indicators supervise the
quality in terms of their freshness
during storage and transportation.
These indicators provide visual
information regarding the microbial
quality of the product which is being
measured by the reaction that takes
place between the microbial growth
metabolites and the integrated
indicators within the package; e.g.
carbon dioxide produced in the
stored meat package is also an
indication of food spoilage. In order
to get a good hold of the compounds
responsible
for
deteriorating
freshness, the freshness indicators
are placed inside the package.
• Gas Indicators: They indicate the
quality condition of the packaged
food based on the inside package
atmosphere. The sensors detect the
changes taking place because of
enzymatic and chemical reactions.
The indicator displays the quality
information
based
on
those
changes. Mostly these indicators
measure oxygen and carbon
dioxide concentrations and these
concentrations are directly linked to
the spoilage status.
• Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) systems: RFID is an
automatic identification technology.
With the help of wireless sensors,
it is used to identify food products
and gather information without
human intervention. RFID consists
of tags and readers. This technology
has been found very useful in
applications like traceability control
and supply chain management
processes because of its ability to
identify, categorise and manage
the flow of goods. This technology
provides supply chain visibility,
which enables fast automated
processes at the supply chain level
like exception management and
information sharing. These tags are
also capable of detecting the possible
interruptions in the cold chain which
are harmful to the food quality and
safety.
Application of Intelligent
Packaging Systems
Intelligent packaging systems have
been commercially used by food and
other industries like pharmaceutical
industries as a solution for extending
the shelf life and simplifying
production processes. This technology
helps to serve various solutions to these
industries that include: facilitating
complex
distribution
logistics;
reducing the need for preservatives
in food formulations; providing
convenience; improving quality; and
adding marketing features. Above all,
it provides all the essential information
to ensure consumer safety.
Intelligent packaging, in other words,
can be explained as an extension of the
communication function of traditional
packaging. It is used to directly
communicate with the consumer based
on its ability to detect, sense and record
the observed changes in the product’s
environment. Intelligent packaging
can also contribute in improving
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Points’ (HACCP) and Quality Analysis
and Critical Control Points’ (QACCP)
systems, which are developed for the
detection of unsafe food, where it helps
to identify potential health hazards
and establish strategies to reduce or
to eliminate their occurrence. These
systems help to detect and improve the
overall quality attributes of food.
Food Marketing & Technology
43
August 2019
Future of Intelligent Packaging
The development of intelligent
packing systems is an emerging field
that will focus on food security and
will grow exponentially in the years
to come. As the consumer becoming
more aware, the demand for the
provision of information on packaging
and food products is also increasing.
They want to know which ingredients
are being used in the products or
how the product was and should
be stored. The intelligent packaging
has some advantages that promise to
fulfil the aforementioned wishes. This
new packaging system can assist in
the detection, monitoring, tracking,
recording,
and
communication
throughout the supply chain and
storage. However, it is also being felt
that the application of this technology
is not meaningful or necessary for all
areas. It only makes sense to use this
type of technology if it helps to increase
the sale or reduce waste because
intelligent packaging is associated
with higher costs. Currently, this is
being used in the food industry in
many countries and rarely being used
in other sectors. But its advantages
like higher product safety during the
supply chain would also benefit other
industries like pharmaceutical and
cosmetics. Currently, these networks
are at an early stage of research
and development. Further research
with a focus on how to enable their
wider application in order to resolve
higher cost issues would benefit
this technology. On the other hand,
it is also very important to educate
the consumer about the benefits of
these systems, and with this, the
customers might be inclined to
spend more on food with intelligent
packaging. Also, the manufacturer
has to realise that the use of intelligent
packaging can offer them a real
market benefit.
* Associate Editor, Food Marketing &
Technology Magazine
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