Food additive detector
First Claim
1. An apparatus for assessing status of a food product, the apparatus comprising:
- a test strip for receiving a sample of the food product;
a test strip reader coupled to the test strip for determining a quantity of a compound in the sample and outputting results of the determination;
a processor configured to receive the results from the test strip reader and configured to determine a freshness status of the food product; and
a display for presenting the freshness status of the food product to a user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for a handheld food additive detector are described. In one aspect, the food additive detector includes a test strip treated with or comprising chemical(s) reactive to at least one target characteristic (e.g., additive(s), compound(s) created as a result of stale/old food, etc.). Responsive to a food sample being placed on the strip, a sensor operatively coupled to the handheld device measures one or more of the strip characteristics (e.g., color, contrast, etc.) resulting from placement of the sample on the strip. The device analyzes the sensor measurement value(s) to determine presence, quantity, concentration, percentage, relative amount, and/or so on, of the target food additive(s), or other characteristics of the food that pertain, for example, to freshness or staleness. Results of the analysis are presented to a user.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for assessing status of a food product, the apparatus comprising:
-
a test strip for receiving a sample of the food product; a test strip reader coupled to the test strip for determining a quantity of a compound in the sample and outputting results of the determination; a processor configured to receive the results from the test strip reader and configured to determine a freshness status of the food product; and a display for presenting the freshness status of the food product to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An apparatus for assessing status of a food product, the apparatus comprising:
-
means for receiving a sample of the food product; means for determining a quantity of a compound in the sample and outputting results of the determination; means for receiving the results from the test strip reader; means for determining a freshness status of the food product based on the results of the determination of the quantity of the compound in the sample; and means for outputting the freshness status of the food product. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for calculating a validation date for a food product, the method comprising:
-
receiving a sample of the food product to a test strip; determining characteristics of a compound in the sample from the test strip; analyzing, in view of threshold amounts of the compound, the characteristics to determine a freshness status of the food product; calculating, based on the freshness status, a validation date comprising a use-by date or a sell-by date; and presenting the validation date to a user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
-
Specification