India, April 11 -- In a groundbreaking innovation, a research team from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, has developed an intelligent food packaging film using natural and biodegradable materials that can visually indicate the freshness of seafood.

Led by Prof. Preetam Sarkar, Associate Professor in the Department of Food Process Engineering, the team has created a pH-sensitive packaging film from Kodo millet starch, gum tragacanth, and beetroot peel extract.

The film reacts to the release of volatile amines-compounds emitted during spoilage-by changing colour, providing a real-time, non-invasive indicator of seafood freshness.

The research, published in the journal Food Packaging and Shelf Life, is the first kno...