Food waste and foodborne illness are two of the most pressing issues facing urban populations today. They greatly increase costs for the economy and the environment and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The conditions of processing, transporting, and preserving food still require improvement in line with current technological advancements because food spoilage remains the primary cause of this waste.
The current methods of monitoring are carried out in laboratories and make use of costly chromatographic instruments. These require a lot of time as well as inordinate assets and a qualified work force. Therefore, in today’s circumstances, the current methods unfortunately prove to be ineffective.
A new exploration distributed in Nature Food presents a huge option in contrast to this cycle: another easy-to-use, practical, and modern sensor that can be applied to food straightforwardly and supplant lab-observing. Real-time measurement is provided by the paper’s 2 x 2 cm miniature wireless device, which does not require a battery and is compatible with smartphones. It is anticipated to be extremely effective, particularly in foods high in protein like fish, chicken, and beef.
Dr. Emin Stif (Molecular Biology and Genetics, Kadir Has University) and Assistant Professor Prof. Levent Beker (Mechanical Designing, Koç College) with the commitment of Prof. Iskender Ylgör and Dr. Emel Ylgör (Science, Koç College), Asst. Asst. Prof. Hatice Ceylan Koydemir (Texas A&M University), and Prof. Adaş Da (Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University).
This new device is the first to offer a capacitive measurement method and makes use of near-field communication (NFC) technology, which enables wireless and power-free communication. Existing solutions focus on the color change of food. According to the authors, this eliminates major drawbacks of resistive devices like moisture sensitivity and inaccurate data due to distance.
Companies will be able to save money thanks to this invention, and consumers will also greatly benefit. When generally popularized, the gadget will empower constant observation on racks and permit clients to control newness just prior to purchasing an item or even before utilization at home. In the end, this opportunity for mobile phone-based on-demand spoilage analysis will aid in the prevention of food waste and food-borne diseases.
The authors hope to make a quicker and more effective contribution to the larger fight against global warming and greenhouse gas emissions thanks to its affordability and accessibility. The next thing that needs to be done is to work on making the product more likely to be sold in the near future.
More information: Emin Istif et al, Miniaturized wireless sensor enables real-time monitoring of food spoilage, Nature Food (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00750-9
