A design to end the dodgy meat dilemma - 2008

27 November 2008

A small, egg-shaped device could become the grocery shoppers' best friend, thanks to the final year project of a QUT industrial design student.

The Tetra-egg is a handheld device aimed at preventing food poisoning by detecting the concentration of gases given off by bacteria on meat and other food products, designed by Graduate Diploma of Industrial Design student Thomas Blackwell.

It functions in combination with a label that is integrated into the clear film of hermetically sealed meat packaging. The label is coated in new ink that changes colour according to the concentration of various gases emitted by bacteria on the meat.

"The label will visually grow through eight stages telling you how fresh the meat is, as gas levels rise," Thomas said.

"You can then apply the Tetra-egg to the label and it will advise you how many hours remain before the food becomes unsafe to eat. The Tetra-egg contains a spectrophotometer which analyses the light that bounces off the ink on the label."

Thomas said the Tetra-egg would also help educate consumers on food hygiene and correct food handling.

"There is a dangerous period of time between supermarket and home. It has been found that 25 minutes is the average time that meat is unrefrigerated while transported home from the supermarket with transport times up to 90 minutes before meat is returned to a refrigerated environment.

"Meat is nearly always contaminated and any chance bacteria have to multiply they will take, which is at any temperature between 3 and 60 degrees Celsius.

"The current expiry date on meat gives only an indication of the meat's freshness if it has been stored under the optimum, regulated temperature. The Tetra-egg adjusts to the effects of fluctuating temperatures and other external factors on their food, advising them when it would be wise to dispose of food."

The Tetra-egg is a fully researched concept with wide applications to various food products and contexts and Thomas is keen to see an entrepreneurial company take up the challenge and bring the Tetra-egg to market.

Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT media, 07 3138 1841 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au.