Smart tags to consign use-by dates to the scrap heap

A new electronic smart tag changes colour to show when food is no longer safe to eat

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(Image credit: Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images)

ELECTRONIC tags could soon replace traditional use-by dates on food, allowing people to see precisely when perishables items are about to go off.

Chinese food scientists have produced a new label – known as a smart tag – that shows how much life is left in food, rather than relying on manufacturers' estimates. The technology will take the guesswork out of food consumption and could help to cut waste, say the inventors. Use-by dates are known to err on the side of caution, rather than accurately reflecting when a product has gone bad.

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