June 13th, 2006
Timestrips Tell You When to Toss Perishables
By Alice Hill
RealTechNews
Gut check: this feels like technology overkill. You “activate” your freshly opened container of milk or cottage cheese or whatever, and the Timestrip and will scientifically tell you when the food is officially out of time.
“Use by” dates are handy but they don’t tell us when we first opened that pack of ham or fresh juice. Eye drops and contact lens solutions pose similar problems, as do many other household items such as filters and toothbrushes. Timestrips® are already available for use in the home and in professional kitchens. And coming soon look out for the Timestrip® technology integrated into all sorts of products and packaging.
When ready to activate the TIMESTRIP® smart label, simply peel off the backing paper, squeeze the bubble at the back of the TIMESTRIP® and apply it to the packaging of your product such as on a jar of mayonnaise. The first window will let you know it has been activated and the TIMESTRIP® will begin showing you how long the food has been opened. Price : £5.00 ($9.20 USD) per pack (each pack contains 50 Fridgestrips) Delivery is free within the UK (£2.50 outside UK) Source: Timestrips via Popgadget
We Say: Targeting eye products sounds a tad hysterical, since the recent problem with the saline solution recall was not people using expired solutions, but a bad batch. And yes, we all want to know when we can really and truly use something when the chips are down - morning coffee and some old milk with an iffy expiration date, but let’s not get carried away folks - the human nose and common sense coupled with a good old fashioned “Use By” or “Sell By” stamp handles 99% of all concerns.
song says:
I know some obsessive compulsive people who would be all over this product!!
June 13th, 2006 at 7:31 am
C. Sullivan says:
This actually has an application, assuming there’s a 21-day version.
A diabetic’s insulin, as well as other injectible drugs, typically has a 21-day “shelf life” after it has been opened. This product stuck to the side of your insulin bottle can be real handy and quite a time saver.
Just about everybody who’s diabetic has had one of those days where you don’t “feel right” and your blood sugars seem off. “Oh, damn.. how old is this insulin, anyway?”
June 13th, 2006 at 8:14 am
MissingFrame says:
Hmm, might have interesting uses beyond the fridge, like, how long has it been since I changed my sheets?
June 13th, 2006 at 8:18 am
Grifty McGrift says:
There is a similar product to this that is able to account for temperature abuse. If your milk sat out on a loading dock all afternoon, it would show a shorter shelf life. It’s of dubious value to the grocery/food producer, so who knows if it will ever see widespread use.
June 13th, 2006 at 8:22 am
Kerri says:
Well considering most North American companies now you code for the best before dates this would be of great benefit to us. Try figuring out what R4133 2 means when your rushing to make dinner!!
June 13th, 2006 at 9:30 am
recycledelectrons says:
Actually, most of the time specific stuff on insulin is BS, but that’s a story of libaility over common sense. I tested insulin and glucose test strips years after their exp. dates - no problems in most cases, but I am NOT responsible if you win a Darwin Award by not using common sense.
If you need to know when you opened or purchased something, try a permanent marker. I write the date purchased on every but of food I buy “P 06-13-2006″ might go on a bag of chips. If I care when I open it (I don’t - a Food Saver sealer it tighter than the factory’s packaging.)
Andy Out!
June 13th, 2006 at 10:30 am
Lisa says:
Well, I was born without a sense of smell. This product sounds pretty good to me.
June 13th, 2006 at 10:42 am
Henry Winkler says:
I think this is a clever idea. As Mr. T would Say, “I Pitty the Fool”
June 13th, 2006 at 11:32 am
ValuedCustomer says:
I could use a 5-day version for my boxer-shorts. — juuuust kiddin’!
June 14th, 2006 at 6:13 am
Doris Beers says:
For the thousands of us with mold allergies, things become iffy to use far more quickly than the nose can tell. It gets tedious throwing things away “just in case.” I am in the US and would buy this. In fact, am off to see whether I can get it here.
June 14th, 2006 at 9:56 am
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May 13th, 2008 at 10:21 pm