Apr 30, 2009 1:04 pm US/Eastern
'Smart' Food Labels Can Indicate Expiration
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Karen LaFlamme has two small children, her husband and father to feed. Like any good mother, she wants to be sure to avoid any food that's contaminated or expired. But with the
recent peanut butter scare, we know there are no guarantees, even in the grocery store.
"I would feel terrible, especially with my dad that's elderly. So I want to be sure that the food my whole family eats is safe," LaFlamme said.
Karen is excited to hear that some supermarkets will soon be using advanced technology to make sure the food you are buying is safe.
Scientists in Rhode Island have developed a new 'smart' label that changes when the food is expired or contaminated.
"So when you scan this at the checkout counter, you come up with 'error – bad product'," explained researcher Brett Lucht.
Other labels are being tested that will also protect you 'after' the sale. They will automatically change and warn you when that yogurt you bought two weeks ago has gone bad.
Developers are trying to figure out how to use these labels to convince you to buy something. One offers a special deal or free prizes another appeals to your sense of smell. "If you got coffee, they'll send out the coffee aroma when they sense you are coming by," said one company executive working on the technology.
Some store chains are also working on a system that will use their rewards cards to notify you if you purchased something that's been recalled.
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