Laser Labelling on Avocados

[Morning Glory]

Avocados with laser-printed barcodes are going on sale at Marks & Spencer in the UK this week as part of a push towards sustainability. This new method of labelling is claimed to be a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to the traditional sticky labels as it will significantly reduce paper waste and will save 10 tonnes of labels and backing paper and 5 tonnes of adhesive every year on avocados alone. As the production uses less energy, the carbon footprint will also be much lower.

The avocados will bear the M&S logo, best before date, country of origin and product code.
Source: Good Housekeeping Institute: marks-spencer-has-started-laser-labelling-its-avocados

Is it a good idea? What do you think?

 

[classic33]

It's been tried before, and failed. The scanners couldn't read the barcode.

At 5p a time who'll pay the extra?

 

[classic33]

Although they will have to replace the scanners, to "read" any barcode on what's in the picture.

 

[Cinisajoy]

Ours don't have any labels at all.

 

[classic33]

Every few years.
Laser Food is hoping to usher in a new era of eco-friendly, extra efficient labeling for produce. The Spain-based business has teamed up with researchers from the University of Valencia to develop technology that brands each item’s exterior, without affecting its quality — inside or out. “The concept is the answer to a major problem in the industry: total traceability of fruits and vegetables, by the piece, until they reach the consumer’s table,” says export sales director Stephane Merit (who also works with Maxfrut, which manufactures the machines).

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Err, what about the concept of the skin being a protective layer for the fruit. Surely this opens up the fruit to rotting faster?

 

[classic33]

Err, what about the concept of the skin being a protective layer for the fruit. Surely this opens up the fruit to rotting faster?

The use by date is sooner. Going by the recomendations the last time it was used.

That or there's more waste.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

The use by date is sooner. Going by the recomendations the last time it was used.

That or there's more waste.

badly phrased on my behalf. If you puncture the skin on anything, you allow bacteria or fungi to get in faster, thus speeding up the decaying rate. So cut something open and leave it and it will go off much faster than not having cut it open. Take a slice out of an avocado and you allow the outer pathogens to get into the fruit and start the decaying process. And given the need to usually need to leave avocado to ripen for a week before you can eat them, plus the delay is lasering them and getting them to the shop, then purchasing them, all of this adds up to compromising the integrity of that skin layer for much longer. Just the random ramblings of someone with a ripe avocado in the fridge.

 

[classic33]

badly phrased on my behalf. If you puncture the skin on anything, you allow bacteria or fungi to get in faster, thus speeding up the decaying rate. So cut something open and leave it and it will go off much faster than not having cut it open. Take a slice out of an avocado and you allow the outer pathogens to get into the fruit and start the decaying process. And given the need to usually need to leave avocado to ripen for a week before you can eat them, plus the delay is lasering them and getting them to the shop, then purchasing them, all of this adds up to compromising the integrity of that skin layer for much longer. Just the random ramblings of someone with a ripe avocado in the fridge.

The intention is that the growers do their part of the labelling, date & farm(damaging the skin the first time), on site before it leaves. Then it's added to possibly between grower & buyer, with the buyers doing the barcodes and shop markings once they have them(damaging the skin for a second or third time). It's not a one-off marking process. The theory is sound, prove where it came from, and when. Practice, it doesn't quite work out. Leading to waste. It's supposed to be an equivalent of the tags on livestock.

Barcodes are unique to shops, manufacturers. An item bought in one place seldom scans as the same elsewhere. With shops having their own brands.

The biggest problems are going to remain price reductions(stickers required) and the seperate scanners required. The barcodes are printed on a white background, in a dark contrasting colour, seldom the same coulor as the packaging.