Vitsab Introduces Time-Temperature Monitoring Label for Airline Catering
Vitsab International AB has introduced Freshtag Flight Label, a color-changing time-temperature indicator designed to monitor airline meals and other perishable in-flight catering throughout transport.
According to Vitsab, the label is intended to support airline Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) and Quality Management Systems (QMS) by providing a visual indication of cumulative time-temperature exposure. The company's "Stoplight Technology" uses a color progression from green to yellow to red to indicate whether products have remained within predetermined temperature limits. Vitsab said the labels can be placed in food trolleys and carts, allowing cabin crews to verify the status of perishable foods during flight without additional equipment.
The labels can be used in refrigerated, frozen, or passive galley storage environments and require no tools or technical setup. The indicators provide cumulative temperature monitoring from meal preparation through transportation and in-flight service.
The company also said Freshtag Flight Labels are designed to support compliance with the World Food Safety Guidelines for Airline Catering (Step 25, CCP2), FDA requirements, EU Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004, Hazards Analysis and Critcal Control Points (HACCP) principles, Codex Alimentarius, and ISO 9001 quality management standards. These compliance claims have not been independently verified.
According to Vitsab, the system may help airlines reduce food waste by identifying products whose integrity has been compromised, allowing unopened items that remain within acceptable temperature limits to be retained for later use or donated where permitted. The company also said the technology could reduce spoilage-related losses and support sustainability initiatives by reducing unnecessary disposal of food.
Vitsab further stated that the use of time-temperature indicators could allow airlines to reduce reliance on chilled storage equipment by enabling the use of ambient galley storage in some applications, potentially lowering onboard weight and fuel consumption. The company did not provide data supporting these performance claims.
Vitsab: www.vistab.com
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