An unnamed retailer operating in US and Europe is planning to trial by the end of this year a barcode that can monitor food quality in the cold chain.

The thermal barcodes, developped by SIRA Technologies would allow shop staff and consumers to check if a product is fit to take home, simply by scanning the barcode at the checkout.

A line of heat-sensitive invisible ink is printed behind the barcode. The ink heats up and changes colour and blocks out the barcode when the product has been stored at unsuitably high temperatures. When this happens the item becomes impossible to scan.

From PiraNet.