Wednesday, March 18, 2026

MIT ‘smart packaging’ sensor could improve food safety

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MIT News Office

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Massachusetts Institute of Technology chemists have devised an inexpensive, portable sensor that can detect gases emitted by spoiled meat, allowing consumers to determine whether the meat in their grocery store or refrigerator is safe to eat.

The sensor, which consists of chemically modified carbon nanotubes, could be deployed in “smart packaging” that would offer much more accurate safety information than the expiration date on the package, says Timothy Swager, the John D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry at MIT.

It could also cut down on food waste, he adds. “People are constantly throwing things. . .

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