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1. General aspects and benefits of OnVu™

What is a TTI?

A TTI is a simple device that displays a visual summary of the elapsed time-temperature history of the product to which it is attached. A TTI can be used on any product that is sensitive to temperature.

What is OnVu™?

OnVu™ is the brand name of our TTI products. OnVu™ increases consumer food safety by reflecting the integrity of the chill chain.

What is the purpose of an OnVu™ TTI?

Its main use is to monitor the freshness of certain foods, such as meat, fish, dairy products, and fresh produce, i.e. to increase food safety by reflecting the integrity of the chill chain.

Why are TTI s needed?

Temperature abuse is known to be the major cause of food spoilage and illness associated with it. OnVu™ responds to an immediate consumer concern: a reliable assurance of freshness when purchasing and storing perishable goods. TTIs show producers, retailers and consumers at a glance whether the goods have been correctly supplied and stored.

What problems do OnVu™ TTI s solve?

OnVu™ TTIs increase food safety, as they indicate when a product has not been stored under the recommended conditions
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and has therefore reached the end of its shelf-life. OnVu™ TTIs meet consumer demand for indirect and independent monitoring of food freshness. All parties involved in the logistic chain are provided with unmistakable evidence of correct/incorrect storage and transportation.

How does OnVu™ work?

OnVu™ is a simple visual indication of a product’s freshness. The innovative technology relies on the properties of organic pigments that change color over time and if temperatures rise. The TTI contains a color-coded display, which consists of a reference color and an active OnVu™ TTI. The OnVu™ TTI becomes dark when activated with UV light and starts to fade right after the charging process, at a rate that depends on time and the temperature to which the label is exposed. When the shade of the center of the OnVu™ apple is lighter than the reference color, the product has reached the end of its shelf-life and is no longer safe to consume. The rate of fading is calibrated to the lifecycle of the respective food product. Exposure to excessive temperatures accelerates the color change process.

How do OnVu™ TTI s differ from other products on the market?

There is no other solution as cost-effective and innovative. OnVu™ is easy to handle (from the producer’s point of view), easy to understand, versatile (as they can be supplied in various forms), reliable and accurate. OnVu™ has an activation mechanism (Ultra Violet light), is printable, and can potentially be integrated into the package in many forms. Once applied and charged, OnVu™ TTIs do not need any additional tools or hardware.

What is the benefit of a TTI versus a “sell-by date” label?

The “sell-by date” does not report the conditions under which the chilled product has been stored. The absence of time-temperature history must therefore be taken into consideration when choosing a sell-by date. In order to have a safety margin, suppliers are obliged to reduce the shelf-life of perishable goods in order to compensate for any accidental or deliberate temperature abuse. This “rule of thumb” method is neither accurate nor scientifically based. OnVu™ scientifically records the temperature history over time. This accurate method shows whether the product is still suitable for consumption or not.

2. OnVu™ application

Are OnVu™ TTI s applied to packaging or straight onto the product?

An OnVu™ TTI can be added to the package as a label. In the future the ink can potentially also be printed directly onto the package of the consumable product, or integrated into an existing label.

What are the applications for TTIs?

A TTI can be used on any food product that is sensitive to temperature.

What OnVu™ products have been developed so far?

OnVu™ TTIs have been designed for the meat, fish, convenience food and dairy products, that require storage at refrigerated temperatures.

How and when is OnVu™ activated?

An OnVu™ TTI is activated by a UV light source (preferably light-emitting diodes or LEDs) just before application to the package. A filter is then applied to the TTI to protect it from deliberate recharging. The charging and application process usually takes place as the product is being produced and packaged.

Is high-speed application of OnVu™ TTI’s possible?

Currently speeds of 100 labels per minute have been tested and confirmed. Higher speeds, where required are also possible to achieve.

3. OnVu™ functionality, security

What is the time delay for the color change of the OnVu™ TTI, i.e. how fast does the color react to temperature changes?

Each TTI is calibrated to the shelf-life and optimum storage conditions of the product it is designed to monitor. Therefore, the TTI’s color change will match that of the deterioration rate of the product on which it is placed.

How is the TTI calibrated?

The TTI is calibrated in accordance with the decay kinetics of the quality of the food product it is intended for. This input is provided by the manufacturer of the food product. The type of TTI active substance, the reference color and the charging dose are all used to define the exact time-temperature profile of the TTI.

How do you prevent a TTI from being deliberately recharged?

The OnVu™ TTI is protected against recharging by a proprietary filter that is applied to the indicator immediately after charging.