Pharmaceuticals, food products… not only need to be stored properly but also require monitoring of their expiration dates. Once the expiration date arrives, the product must be discarded. However, the method of determining expiration dates is facing heavy criticism, especially regarding meat, as these products may still be safe to consume yet are often thrown away.
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Photo: Daily Mail
To reduce waste, Solveiga Pakstaite, a student at Brunel University in London, has devised a more accurate method by using food labels made with gelatin. Since gelatin is a type of protein, it decomposes similarly to other protein-containing foods, making the quality information it provides more reliable than traditional expiration dates.
This label is called the Bump Mark. When food is packaged, the label is affixed alongside it. Initially, the label feels smooth to the touch. However, over time, as the food inside begins to decompose, the label becomes wrinkled and rough, signaling that it’s time to dispose of the product. This also means that anyone, including those with visual impairments, can easily determine whether the food is still safe to eat or if it should be discarded.
The Bump Mark label has participated in the James Dyson Award for industrial design and technology. According to the Daily Mail, Pakstaite is currently negotiating with retailers and technology companies to bring the product to market as soon as she secures a patent.
