Photonic BioSystems has developed an oxygen-sensitive dye that can be incorporated into product packaging to evaluate the quality of food and beverages.
When the dye is illuminated by a UV laser light, it produces a red emission. However, if oxygen has entered into the package, the emission fades. Through this, users can evaluate if there has been a breach of oxygen.
In order to use this technology, a hand-held scanner can be used from outside the package to check the luminescence, indicating the oxygen levels.
Photonic BioSystems David Putnam told FoodProductionDaily.com that quality control is more important than ever due to recent changes in food law.
"Our technology checks to see if the packaging maintains the low levels of oxygen or if oxygen has crept in throughout the chain," Putnam added.
The dye can be incorporated into the packaging polymers for flexible film packages, rigid containers, glass bottles, caps and corks.
The company is seeking for a licencee to help develop the product for commercial use.
