Smart packaging with microfluidic-antenna system for monitoring meat degradation

In this paper, we report the design and prototyping of an RFID-based smart packaging equipped with a microfluidic-antenna system. The recently introduced joint design technique for such antenna systems is exploited, and a preliminary real-time monitoring of meat degradation is completed. Over little more than four hours, the veal loin under monitoring lost significant liquid due to thaw drip loss, and the corresponding meat degradation yielded an average decrease of the sensing metric of 0.65 units every 100 seconds. Meat preservation along the food processing chain can be continuously monitored by such a smart packaging to improve food quality and safety while reducing plastic and food waste.