interpack 2011: Smart Packages for Freshness
“Best before” date not enough
To assure customers of absolute product safety, the entire logistics chain has to be monitored from production through to the consumer. This applies particularly to perishable foods and to pharmaceutical products. Experience has shown repeatedly that spoiled foods and medicines pose a huge risk. So far consumers had only had the “best before” date to go by, a date that indicates how long a product can be used without loss of quality if correctly stored. The problem is that in the event of breaks in the cooling chain or of moisture penetration, the product spoils prematurely and may put the consumer's health at risk. On the other hand, foods are often still fresh beyond the “best before” date, but are thrown away for safety’s sake—an unnecessary waste of resources. Time-temperature indicators show the precise degree of freshness and can prevent waste. “They thus also contribute to sustainability,” says Angehrn.
- Places:
- Chicago
- Switzerland