Chromatic Technologies (CTI), a manufacturer of thermochromic inks, has unveiled a patent-pending package indicator - ‘reveal inks,’ which provide 'return to fridge' reminders to products such as milk, yogurt, salsa, pickles and ketchup.
Powered by a combination of thermochromic inks, the 'reveal inks' can be printed on cans, paper labels, cartons and film.
For instance, if milk is at a safe temperature, the message reads 'Drink Milk,' when the carton reaches a target warm temperature (4.4°C), a color will disappear revealing a 'return to fridge' reminder to the consumer.
The process allows the message, which is enabled to be 'on' and 'off' throughout the life of the package, to be customized.
CTI chief marketing officer Patrick Edson said, "Most parents know that food safety at home is a big deal, but they need help understanding how long they can keep something out of the fridge."
"Food companies are understandably hesitant to put warning labels on their packaging, so the problem continues to exist," Edson added.
"The simple solution is a 'return to fridge' reminder that appears on packaging when the product starts to warm up and the product can become vulnerable to spoilage. When the temperature is fine, the reminder is 'off.' When the package is getting warm, the reminder turns 'on.'"
As per recommendations from the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), if any refrigerated food has been in temperatures above 40° F (4.4°C) for over two hours, it should be discarded.
Lack of proper refrigeration conditions can lead to medical challenges such as Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella and Staphylococcus, according to the US Department of Health & Human Services.
