• Scientists create a new kind of smart food packaging that changes color based on the condition of the food.
• The hydrogel packaging also self-heals, keeps food fresher longer, and is technically biodegradable under certain conditions.

Food packaging has always served to safely store food and prevent it from spoiling for as long as possible. But new technology has the potential to make food packaging smarter, not just protecting food but also giving consumers a quick visual indicator that’s better than a “best by” guess and preventing spoilage caused by packaging damage through self-healing.

Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan have developed a flexible and biodegradable hydrogel designed to detect bacterial growth and help prevent further contamination. The packaging changes color based on the chemical signature of bacterial growth, providing consumers with an easy, more reliable way to know if the food has gone bad.