P.PSH.1271 - Visual indicators to monitor shelf life in Australian retail supply chains
A visual indicator can inform retailers and consumers about the remaining shelf life on vacuum-packed product.
| Project start date: | 29 September 2020 |
| Project end date: | 29 November 2022 |
| Publication date: | 17 January 2024 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
The assignment of product shelf life is often arbitrary and is based on ideal or specified storage temperatures which may not be met in practice. The Keep-It technology is a visual shelf-life forecasting technology that gives a more accurate assessment of expiry than subjective shelf life labelling. Collecting data from the indicators was easier, faster, and more reliable than collecting the data from temperature data loggers. The Keep-It technology offers an opportunity for red meat retail supply chains to ensure that consumers are provided with easily understood shelf life data that will help them make informed consumer purchasing decisions and better assist the retailer with their QA decision making.
Objectives
1. Verify that Keep-It indicators accurately reflect the shelf life of products held at various temperatures within the laboratory.
2. Determine the effective shelf life in a selected supply chain, through temperature monitoring and application of the University of Tasmania shelf life model for VP and Darfresh from processing to retail.
3. Demonstrate the Keep-It indicator system in an Australian processor to retail and consumer supply chain and measure the response of the supply chain/consumer.
4. Determine how Australian consumers would respond to a Keep-It indicator across a range of fresh meat products.
Key findings
Keep-It indicators were found to underestimates the shelf-life at low temperatures (2 °C) and overestimate the shelf-life at higher temperatures (6.6 °C) when compared to the UTAS/MLA shelf life calculator. Preliminary testing in store demonstrated that the Keep-It indicators could detect suboptimal storage conditions, which were able to be corrected. A survey of consumers in stores indicated that 79% of consumers felt secure that the food they buy with a Keep-It indicator applied is higher quality than those meat brands without the assurance. Of all questions asked, the instances of a positive response was 67%, with the remaining being 13% neutral and 20% negatively responding to the technology. The major focus from consumers in the study was broken into two categories of people. Consumers who had a higher perception of the importance for Product integrity and Sustainability benefits were consistently positive and considered the key demographic that this technology can be delivered to.
Benefits to industry
Keep-It indicators were found to underestimates the shelf-life at low temperatures (2 °C) and overestimate the shelf-life at higher temperatures (6.6 °C) when compared to the UTAS/MLA shelf life calculator. Preliminary testing in store demonstrated that the Keep-It indicators could detect suboptimal storage conditions, which were able to be corrected. A survey of consumers in stores indicated that 79% of consumers felt secure that the food they buy with a Keep-It indicator applied is higher quality than those meat brands without the assurance. Of all questions asked, the instances of a positive response was 67%, with the remaining being 13% neutral and 20% negatively responding to the technology. The major focus from consumers in the study was broken into two categories of people. Consumers who had a higher perception of the importance for Product integrity and Sustainability benefits were consistently positive and considered the key demographic that this technology can be delivered to.
MLA action
The final report will be published on the MLA R&D website. MLA can promote the use of visual indicators as a potential benefit to the retail sector.
Future research
1. how much reduction in waste and mark downs can be achieved by use of visual shelf life indicators?
2. how will the use of visual indicators change consumer behaviour?
More information
| Project manager: | Ian Jenson |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
