新型包装袋检测食物是否变质-英语点津

英国斯特莱斯克莱德大学日前发明出了一种智能食品包装袋，该包装袋可以“检测”出它里面的食物是否已经变质。科学家介绍说，这种新型包装袋的颜色会依据袋内氧气含量的变化而发生改变。如果袋中食品变质，氧气含量便会上升，包装袋也会因此改变颜色。科学家们说这种包装袋将有助于减少不必要的生活垃圾，并使英国每年多达830万吨的食品免于“被丢弃”的命运。该包装袋预计将于两年内面市。

An intelligent food wrapping that changes colour if the contents are going bad has been created by scientists.

The smart plastic packaging detects when meat, fish or salad leaves have passed their use-by date or have been left out of the fridge for too long.

It also alerts householders if sealed packaging has been broken or damaged, putting the contents at risk. The British scientists behind the intelligent wrap believe it will reduce unnecessary household waste and help cut the 8.3 million tons of food being thrown away in the UK every year.

新型包装袋检测食物是否变质

It will also help people uncertain about best-before and use-by dates on food – and reassure those who gamble with the dates on meat and dairy produce.

Previously, scientists have developed indicator labels which are inserted into food packaging. But the new plastic is designed to be part of the wrapping itself.

It works with food such as meat, fish or salad that has been sealed in a 'modified atmosphere' – where levels of oxygen are reduced and replaced with inert nitrogen or carbon dioxide gases to slow natural decay.

The new plastic is designed to change colour if levels of oxygen rise above a predetermined level.

It also responds to chemical changes triggered by food spoiling.

Professor Andrew Mills, who is leading the research at Strathclyde University, said: "At the moment we throw out far too much food, which is environmentally and economically damaging. We hope this will reduce the risk of people eating food that is no longer fit for consumption and help prevent unnecessary waste of food."

The project was part-funded by a £325,000 grant from Scottish Enterprise's Proof of Concept programme, which aims to turn research ideas into commercial products.

The Government says 364,000 tons of edible food is thrown away each year after passing its best-before date, and another 39,400 tons is dumped without even being opened.

Prof Mills said the first smart wraps could be in the shops within two years.