A new type of ink has been developed which will help in detecting the presence of oxygen in food packages and therefore indicate that the food is no longer fit for human consumption. The ink can be used for ensuring that the product is genuine and it has not been tampered with. In case oxygen enters the food package, the color of ink changes indicating that it is not safe to eat this food any longer. In oxygen free environment the ink is colorless but on exposure to oxygen it changes color.
Scientists at the University of Strathclyde developed this ink and light sensitive nanoparticles were used for creating this ink and oxygen is detected with the help of UV light.
This would certainly help in reducing cases of food poising due to food tampering or poor packaging. The ink is quite inexpensive so expect it to be used on a commercial scale and it can be put on labels of any type of food.
