How a bacteria-detecting strip of plastic film could help identify contaminated food
It's impossible to tell if meat is contaminated with potentially deadly E. coli bacteria by simply smelling or looking at it, but one day a glance at the plastic packaging could let consumers know if it's safe to eat.
That's the hope of a team of researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.
They've developed a thin, plastic patch they call Sentinel Wrap that changes colour under ultraviolet light when it comes into contact with meat contaminated with E. coli, a food-borne bacteria that can cause extreme illness or death.
