Food sniffers help Chinese people avoid contaminated food

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Scientists in China have recently developed a handheld electronic “nose” that can help people sort the fresh meat from the bad, according to China Daily.

The kitchen gadgets, based on the sensor and measurement technologies used in the missiles and space equipment, are able to detect and measure the presence of ammonia and volatile organic compounds to determine bacteriological activity in uncooked meat.

“It can tell the shoppers whether the meat is fresh, spoiled or ready for your dustbin,” said Niu Ye, one of the sniffer designers at Beijing Institute of Radio Metrology and Measurements.

"People can get the food test report on their phone by connecting with the sniffers via Bluetooth. Almost all kinds of daily meat are detectable on this device," Niu said.

"Considering the food safety concerns in some rural areas, the product could be very useful for consumers who purchase meat from unlicensed vendors, and the households who forget to put fresh meat in their refrigerators after buying it, or who want to cook a piece of meat that has been in the refrigerator for a long time," said Liu Changwen, another of the gadget's designers.

Although these types of food sniffers are available in other countries, it is the first device produced by Chinese engineers.

[Top Image via China Daily]