Printed Electronics in Supermarkets

Food safety
Intelligent interactions by RFID will have a significant impact on food safety. For example one type of RFID tag for food is a label containing a chip and a sensor which records the time-temperature history of the product in transit and in storage. These Time Temperature Indicators (TTI) indicate if and when a product has been exposed to damaging environmental conditions. Some packaging even has a label with an electronic display that says "expired". In time, we will have self-adjusting labels where use-by or sell-by dates change as the product experiences different temperatures.

Furthermore, RFID warns if products, such as ready meals, have been inadequately cooked. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has demonstrated a microwave that can read RFID-tagged food and set itself to the correct power level and cooking time, ensuring food is properly cooked.

These "intelligent interactions" also extend to fridges and freezers. Electrolux in Germany has demonstrated appliances for restaurants that monitor tagged, packaged stock. They enable the operation of a Nearest Expiry First Out (NEFO) system, rather than the more risky traditional First in First out (FIFO) process. This RFID-enabled NEFO system protects the consumer more effectively.