Patent ID: 6495368
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of detecting microbial spoilage of a food product comprising the steps of:placing a spoilage indicator device in fluid contact with a food product, said spoilage indicator having a barrier sheet which is permeable to molecules under about 200 daltons while being substantially impermeable to larger molecules, said spoilage indicator further containing a carrier having an indicator material entrapped therein, said indicator material being selected from the group consisting of pH sensitive indicators, sulphydryl and nitrogen compound specific indicators said barrier sheet being arranged so that it is in fluid contact with said food product and separating a first surface of said carrier from said food product, said indicator material being capable of producing a detectable change upon reacting with a reactant molecule of less than 200 daltons which is produced in a food product when the food product is undergoing microbial spoilage; allowing a reactant molecule produced in said food product by microbial spoilage to traverse said barrier sheet, to contact said spoilage indicator, and to react with said indicator material therein; and observing said spoilage indicator to determine whether said detectable change has occurred in said indicator material, said detectable change indicating a build-up of said reactant molecule in said food product and therefore being indicative of microbial spoilage.