03.22.18
It’s a new world, and labels are no longer just for shelf appeal. In fact, a new functional use could provide numerous health benefits to customers.
According to a story on www.thekitchn.com, Mimica Labs has developed a method for alerting food consumers to spoiled products. The label, which decays at the same rate as the food, will turn bumpy when the item is no longer fit for consumption.
Mimica Touch is the first product by the company, which states that its product is a biologically accurate food expiry indicator calibrated to experience decay at the same rate as food. Mimica Touch utilizes gelatin to provide data to the user. Because it is a foodstuff itself, it behaves in the same way that packaged food does due to the molecular composition. The gel subsequently reacts to temperature changes in the cold chain and in the consumer's home. This causes molecular breakdown, as well as tactile information for consumers.
While the product has not officially launched, the potential exists to make labels fully functional in the future. The goal is to make this technology “highly adoptable,” where it can easily be applied to current labels and packaging products.
These labels are currently in their first trial phase, as Arla Foods, a co-op in the UK and Europe, will be testing the Mimica Touch label on its milk, cream, yogurt, and cheese products. By providing an accurate read on when foods go bad, this provides a means of curbing food waste, in addition to protecting the consumer.
Arla has scheduled a trial in UK supermarkets for later in 2018.
According to a story on www.thekitchn.com, Mimica Labs has developed a method for alerting food consumers to spoiled products. The label, which decays at the same rate as the food, will turn bumpy when the item is no longer fit for consumption.
Mimica Touch is the first product by the company, which states that its product is a biologically accurate food expiry indicator calibrated to experience decay at the same rate as food. Mimica Touch utilizes gelatin to provide data to the user. Because it is a foodstuff itself, it behaves in the same way that packaged food does due to the molecular composition. The gel subsequently reacts to temperature changes in the cold chain and in the consumer's home. This causes molecular breakdown, as well as tactile information for consumers.
While the product has not officially launched, the potential exists to make labels fully functional in the future. The goal is to make this technology “highly adoptable,” where it can easily be applied to current labels and packaging products.
These labels are currently in their first trial phase, as Arla Foods, a co-op in the UK and Europe, will be testing the Mimica Touch label on its milk, cream, yogurt, and cheese products. By providing an accurate read on when foods go bad, this provides a means of curbing food waste, in addition to protecting the consumer.
Arla has scheduled a trial in UK supermarkets for later in 2018.
