Food impurity identifier

• US 20070087112A1
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Micro Analytical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micro Analytical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Daniel, Wittenberg, Malcolm
• Application Number:
  US11/248,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/665
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/24 Inorganic compounds

Abstract

A method of providing a consumer of a food product with data regarding food impurities found therein. The method includes providing an analyzer for the food product while providing food impurity concentration data of the food product. The food product is labeled with the identifier which is associated with the food product at distribution. A website is established for receiving the food impurity concentration data and for displaying the food impurity concentration data in association with the identifier. A consumer is provided the opportunity to learn the food impurity concentration data of the food product bearing the identifier by comparing the identifier on the food product with that recited on the website.

Claims

1. A method of providing a consumer of a food product with data regarding a food impurity found therein, said method comprising providing an analyzer for said food product for determining food impurity concentration data of said food product, labeling said food product with an identifier, said identifier being associated with said food product and the concentration of said impurity generated by said analyzer, said identifier being further associated with said food product at distribution, establishing a website for receiving said food impurity concentration data and for displaying said food impurity concentration data in association with said identifier such that a consumer is provided the opportunity to learn the food impurity concentration data of said food product bearing said identifier by accessing said website.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said food product is a member selected from the group consisting of seafood, meat, poultry, water, and grain.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said impurity comprises a member selected from the group consisting of heavy metals, pesticides, bacteria, histamines and organics.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said food product comprises seafood and said impurity comprises mercury.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifier comprises a serial number.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said serial number is displayed on said website and on said identifier enabling said consumer to match said serial number on said food product with said serial number on said website.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said website further communicates recommended safety levels of said impurities based upon established recommendations.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said established recommendations are those established by at least one governmental agency.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said at least one governmental agency is the U.S. Food &

Drug Administration.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said at least one governmental agency is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said food product is seafood and said impurity is mercury and said recommended safety levels are not to exceed 0.1 μ

g of mercury per kilogram of body weight per day.

12. A method of providing a consumer of seafood with mercury level data corresponding to said seafood, said method comprising providing an analyzer for measuring mercury concentration data of said seafood, labeling said seafood with an identifier, said identifier to be associated with said measured mercury concentration and species of seafood at distribution, establishing a website for receiving said mercury concentration data and for displaying said mercury concentration data in association with said identifier such that a consumer is provided the opportunity to learn the mercury concentration data of seafood bearing said identifier on said website.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said identifier comprises a serial number.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said serial number is displayed on said website and on said identifier enabling said consumer to match said serial number on said seafood with said serial number on said website.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said website further communicates recommended safety levels of said mercury based upon established recommendations.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said established recommendations of those established by at least one governmental agency.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one governmental agency is the U.S. Food &

Drug Administration.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one governmental agency is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said recommendation safety levels are not to exceed 0.1 μ

g Hg per kilogram of body weight per day.