Within food supply chain temperature has critical impact on food quality and safety, therefore, thermal history of the selected food product should be indicated on the packaging item. This research focus on chromogenic temperature indicators. For this purpose thermochromic composites with different additives and activation temperatures Ta were made with possibility to inform final consumer about the duration of item at elevated (storage) temperature with irrevesible wicking lenght and reversible color change of the used thermochromic composite. Practical use and importance of such an indicator was shown on a laboratory scale experiment.
Due to significant consequences caused by psychrophilic foodborne pathogens in food industry, a Listeria monocytogenes strain was used to indicate the importance of maintaining the milk on the required temperature.
Indicators are promising candidates for intelligent packaging.
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