Most of us are aware that 'best-by dates' often come and go long before the food product has begun to spoil inside in any way.  We also understand that food could go bad in ways which we can neither notice nor anticipate.

What if the packaging containing a fresh food product could detect and warn you when spoilage occurs?

An intrepid nonprofit is currently developing such packaging that incorporates sensing material that will change its colour, or give a sign in some way, to the handler or buyer when it detects the presence of harmful or unwanted bacteria or other chemicals.

Along with their spoiling-sensing technology, this company is developing a compostable version of this sort of plastic as its flagship effort - a plastic that can be composted in your own garden by simply burying it.

No word yet on when these products will be ready for market.