A time temperature indicator (TTI) is a device or smart

label A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed ...

that shows the accumulated time-temperature history of a product. Time temperature indicators are commonly used on food,

pharmaceutical A medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the medical field an ...

, and

medical products Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practice ...

to indicate exposure to excessive temperature (and time at temperature). In contrast, a

Temperature data logger A temperature data logger, also called temperature monitor, is a portable measurement instrument that is capable of autonomously recording temperature over a defined period of time. The digital data can be retrieved, viewed and evaluated after it h ...

measures and records the temperatures for a specified time period. The digital data can be downloaded and analyzed.

Technology

There are a large number of different time temperature indicators available in the market, based on different technologies. Some devices are based migration of dye through a

filter paper Filter paper is a semi-permeable paper barrier placed perpendicular to a liquid or air flow. It is used to separate fine solid particles from liquids or gases. The raw materials are different Pulp (paper), paper pulps. The pulp may be made from soft ...

, while others contain pouches with

bacterial Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were amon ...

fluids that change color when certain time-temperature combinations have been reached. To the degree that these physical changes in the indicator match the degradation rate of the food, the indicator can help indicate probable food degradation. Digital

s are available to indicate the full temperature history of a shipment to help identify the time period that out-of- tolerance temperatures were encountered. This temperature history can be used to calculate the loss of

shelf life Shelf life is the length of time that a commodity may be stored without becoming unfit for use, consumption, or sale. In other words, it might refer to whether a commodity should no longer be on a pantry shelf (unfit for use), or no longer on a ...

or the likelihood of spoilage. These small recorders are also used to identify the time (and thus location) of a shipment when the problem occurred, which allows for corrective action.

TTI's food industry

Time-temperature indicators can be used on food products that are dependent on a controlled

temperature Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses quantitatively the perceptions of hotness and coldness. Temperature is measurement, measured with a thermometer. Thermometers are calibrated in various Conversion of units of temperature, temp ...

environment. Certain technologies can also be used for frozen food and the

cold chain A cold chain is a low temperature-controlled supply chain network. An unbroken cold chain is an uninterrupted series of refrigerated production, storage and distribution activities, along with associated equipment and logistics, which maintain qu ...

Benefits

Surveys within the EU projects "Freshlabel" and "Chill-on" have shown a positive feedback by

consumer A consumer is a person or a group who intends to order, or uses purchased goods, products, or services primarily for personal, social, family, household and similar needs, who is not directly related to entrepreneurial or business activities. ...

s to the use of TTIs on food products. As TTIs help assure the cool chain of food products, they are expected to reduce the amount of

food waste Food loss and waste is food that is not eaten. The causes of food waste or loss are numerous and occur throughout the food system, during production, processing, distribution, retail and food service sales, and consumption. Overall, about o ...

, as well as reducing the number of

foodborne illness Foodborne illness (also foodborne disease and food poisoning) is any illness resulting from the spoilage of contaminated food by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that contaminate food, as well as prions (the agents of mad cow disease ...

es.

Regulation

The

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of ...

regulates the use of TTIs for certain medical products. There is extensive regulation by the FDA on the use of TTIs on US seafood products.

References

General References

* ASTM F1416 Standard Guide for Selection of Time-Temperature Indicators * Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, *Taoukis, P. and T.P. Labuza. 2003. Time temperature indicators. In: Novel Food Packaging Techniques. R. Ahvenainen (ed.). Woodhead Publ., Cambridge, UK.

External links

*
FDA regulation on the use of TTI's in the seafood industry

Article on the introduction of a TTI at a large food producer

WRAP Food Waste Report
(PDF-Datei; 1,44 MB)

Article on the introduction of a TTI at a food producer in Switzerland
{{packaging Food safety Drug safety Temperature control Packaging