# Digestible Smart Stickers The Edible Silk Sensors by Tufts University Indicates When Food is Bad By Meghan Young | Published 2012-03-02 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/edible-silk-sensors References: [fastcoexist](http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679384/chew-on-this-edible-silk-sensors-to-monitor-your-food) & [tufts.edu](http://www.tufts.edu) Despite the use of [expiry dates on certain foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/expiremate), it can still be hard to tell when something has truly gone bad; however, the use of edible silk sensors can change all of that. Similar to [stickers found on fruit and vegetables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sniff-n-sip), these sensors are stuck onto various types of food and can even be plopped into cartons of milk. They will indicate whether or not the food they’re placed in is safe to eat or drink. Developed by scientists at the Tufts University, the edible silk sensors are made out of a gold antennae embedded in a purified silk film. The gold bits are comparable to the slivers often used in luxurious desserts while the silk substrate is pure protein. When the food begins to rot, the edible silk sensors start to emit a different electromagnetic signal, which can be read by smartphones. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.7/10 - Popularity: 10% | Activity: 33% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Edible Silk Sensors:** The development of edible silk sensors opens up opportunities for creating smart food packaging and reducing food waste. - **Smart Food Packaging:** The use of edible silk sensors in food packaging can provide real-time information about food freshness and safety. - **Mobile Application Integration:** The integration of edible silk sensors with smartphones allows for easy detection of food spoilage and enhances consumer convenience. ### Who This Affects Most - **Food Packaging:** The food packaging industry can leverage edible silk sensors to create innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. - **Food Safety:** The development of edible silk sensors has the potential to revolutionize food safety protocols and reduce incidents of foodborne illnesses. - **Smartphone Technology:** Smartphone companies and app developers can explore opportunities to integrate edible silk sensor technology into their devices and applications. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Edible QR Codes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/interiqr.md) - [Food Freshness Fridge Tags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nudge-tags.md) - [Food Longevity Stickers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/keep-food-fresh.md) - [Freshness-Tracking Food Containers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vorkoster-lid.md) - [Food Safety Tracking Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecotracker.md) - [Food Waste-Combatting Smart Stickers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grey-colombia.md) - [Edible Food-Safe Adhesives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tastee-tape.md) - [Dynamic Food Safety Detectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-safety-detector.md) - [Edible Snack Skins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/foodberry.md)