Original story

Compumedia 30.5.2012

MedecSniff detector to be made obligatory on all packed fresh meats and perishables

The European Consumer Trade Commissioner has placed before the European Parliament a directive that will make the use of MedecSniff contamination detectors obligatory on all shrinkwrapped fresh meat and fish items in retail stores.*

The research demanded by the Asian Union and the United States into the reliability of Medec products has been completed, and the results are impressive. The initial teething troubles have been overcome, and Medec’s patented technology is reportedly now able to register at an early stage and with great accuracy when fresh and marinated meats and fish are starting to “turn” or go off.

From among a whole range of alternative operating models put forward by Medec, the one chosen is MedecSniff, which is based on the principle of “smelling” the putrefaction gases given off by rotting food. In packages containing raw meats, poultry, or fish all that will be required is a Medec indicator label, which is attached to the inside of the see-through packaging and which turns from green to red when these gases start to form. In the case of marinated or pre-prepared items, however, the Commission requires that the package include a label containing a small indicator chip that registers the electrical conductivity of the gases released. The label works otherwise in exactly the same way, changing colour when the gases are emitted.

The Consumer Trade Commissioner Senna Etola (FIN) told Compumedia that the decision to make Medec labelling compulsory, taken in the face of opposition from the US and the AU, would bring a considerable improvement in product safety for the shopper. She was also naturally delighted that the patent for the device is held by a Finnish company, but stressed that this had played no part whatsoever in her support for the measure. The EU requirement will increase demand for MedecSniff labels to such an enormous degree that it is likely to have a large beneficial effect on Finland’s trade balance, although manufacturing will be centred in plants in Ireland and Austria.

Medec is also developing a detector that will allow individuals to determine accurately if they have bad breath. It is believed that a large British consortium producing mouthwashes and toothpastes intends to buy up the manufacturing rights to the breath- detector and to sell the item alongside its products.

Details of Medec and the company’s operations can be had from their sat.web address at:

990-04-LR-MED

Toteuma-arvio 2026

Toteuma lyhyesti

  • Ilmiön toteuma: 4/5
  • Toteuma viiden vuoden tarkkuudella: kyllä; arviointi-ikkuna on 2007–2017
  • Toteuma väljemmällä aikahorisontilla: kyllä, ja kehitys on vahvistunut myöhemmin
  • Ilmiön ydin: älykäs elintarvikepakkaus ilmaisee itse tuotteen pilaantumisen tai kylmäketjun rikkoutumisen.

Aika-lämpötilaindikaattorit, kaasuihin reagoivat sensorit ja muut tuoreusmerkinnät ovat kaupallisia ja aktiivisen tutkimuksen kohteita. Niitä ei kuitenkaan ole säädetty pakollisiksi kaikissa tuoretuotteissa.

Johtopäätös: ydin pilaantumista mittaavasta pakkauksesta toteutui olennaisilta osin.