Freshness and expiration date measurement

ended

20% of all meat and 35% of all fish produced is wasted, and being the most resource consuming food to produce, a reduction of this type of waste will have significant environmental impact. In the EU the yearly meat and fish waste corresponds to a CO2-equivalent emission of 193 mio tonnes and has a value of 41 bil €. By reducing the amount of wasted meat and fish due to incorrect or overcautious shelf-life estimates, for which the effect is transmitted through the value chain, the EU CO2e emission could be reduced by 80 mio tonnes and save the industry 4,75 mio tonnes equal to 17 bil €. AmiNIC is a Danish SME, developing and commercializing a handheld patented sensor-technology for determination of freshness and prediction of shelf-life for meat and fish. The device could be considered an intelligent nose, 1000 times more sensitive than the human nose, and from database values, forecast the precise and correct expiration date. The nozzle of the handheld device, in hygienic design, is pressed against the surface of the meat or fish and measures, within seconds, the concentration of degradation molecules in the meat and thereby the freshness. Prediction of expiration date is accomplished by forecast curves for the development of that particular piece of meat or fish. In contrast to the human senses this device gives a measurable value for freshness and is able to predict expiration dates. In comparison to 48 hours microbiological analysis, which can also determine freshness, use of our device does not require trained personal, it is cheap and can be used on-location and gives result immediately, including prediction of shelf-life. The device is initially targeted at the intermediate part of the value chain of meat and fish; processing, distribution, mongers, supermarkets, restaurants and cantinas. In EU these amounts to at least 1,7 mio customers and globally 7,4 mio. We have validated a 40% market share and a price that these customers are willing to pay 670€.