Researchers Develop Tray that Alerts when Food is Contaminated by Pathogenic Bacteria
McMaster University researchers have created a new packaging tray that can signal when Salmonella or other foodborne pathogens are present in raw or cooked foods, such as chicken.
The prototype tray, shaped like a shallow boat, is lined with a food-safe reagent that allows a built-in sensor to detect and signal the presence of Salmonella. The technology can readily be adapted to test for other common foodborne pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. The technology will enable producers, retailers, and consumers to tell in real time whether the contents of a sealed food package are contaminated without having to open it, preventing exposure to contamination while simplifying laborious and expensive lab-based detection processes.