英國斯特萊斯克萊德大學日前發明出了一種智能食品包裝袋，該包裝袋可以“檢測”出它里面的食物是否已經變質。科學家介紹說，這種新型包裝袋的顏色會依據袋內氧氣含量的變化而發生改變。如果袋中食品變質，氧氣含量便會上升，包裝袋也會因此改變顏色。科學家們說這種包裝袋將有助于減少不必要的生活垃圾，并使英國每年多達830萬噸的食品免于“被丟棄”的命運。該包裝袋預計將于兩年內面市。
An intelligent food wrapping that changes colour if the contents are going bad has been created by scientists.
The smart plastic packaging detects when meat, fish or salad leaves have passed their use-by date or have been left out of the fridge for too long.
It also alerts householders if sealed packaging has been broken or damaged, putting the contents at risk. The British scientists behind the intelligent wrap believe it will reduce unnecessary household waste and help cut the 8.3 million tons of food being thrown away in the UK every year.
It will also help people uncertain about best-before and use-by dates on food – and reassure those who gamble with the dates on meat and dairy produce.
Previously, scientists have developed indicator labels which are inserted into food packaging. But the new plastic is designed to be part of the wrapping itself.
It works with food such as meat, fish or salad that has been sealed in a 'modified atmosphere' – where levels of oxygen are reduced and replaced with inert nitrogen or carbon dioxide gases to slow natural decay.
The new plastic is designed to change colour if levels of oxygen rise above a predetermined level.
It also responds to chemical changes triggered by food spoiling.
Professor Andrew Mills, who is leading the research at Strathclyde University, said: "At the moment we throw out far too much food, which is environmentally and economically damaging. We hope this will reduce the risk of people eating food that is no longer fit for consumption and help prevent unnecessary waste of food."
The project was part-funded by a ￡325,000 grant from Scottish Enterprise's Proof of Concept programme, which aims to turn research ideas into commercial products.
The Government says 364,000 tons of edible food is thrown away each year after passing its best-before date, and another 39,400 tons is dumped without even being opened.
Prof Mills said the first smart wraps could be in the shops within two years.
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（來源：dailymail.co.uk 編輯：崔旭燕）
