How ‘Smart Packaging’ Could Make Expiration Dates Irrelevant

For many consumers, particularly in our current era of supermarket inflation, it can be a gamble when a product reaches or exceeds its expiration date. And the confusion is only compounded when a label lists a “best before” date, which many interpret as the date by which the food either needs to be eaten or tossed out.

But if a growing group of advocates have their way, “smart packaging” could soon bring about the end of this dilemma (while saving lives and preventing waste in the process).

What does it mean?

Essentially, the concept behind smart packaging involves implementing high-tech sensors into the food packages that will alert consumers if a potential source of food poisoning is detected.

It might sound like a theme from science fiction that would be insanely expensive to implement, but experts say it would only add a few cents to the cost of packaging. And the amount of waste reduction achieved by allowing people to consume foods for a longer period would likely more than make up for any added expense.

A couple of examples already exist, including so-called “Sentinel Wrap,” which is essentially a form of plastic wrap that can sense when the foods inside it have gone bad, and a small device that can be placed inside packages — particularly of meat — that can detect listeria, salmonella, E. coli, and other types of dangerous bacteria.

When will it be here?

Although there’s been a lot of progress in smart packaging (not to mention a food spray that can halt the growth of contamination), there’s no immediate plan to implement this technology on widely available foods.

But biomedical engineer Tohid Didar is spearheading an effort to “start a conversation between researchers, policymakers, corporations, and consumers” that he believes could expedite the process.

Chris Agee May 3rd, 2024

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