Intelligent Packaging for Poultry Industry

The growth of modern poultry farming in the US has been relentless. The application of novel and innovative technologies from rearing to processing has been playing a pivotal role for such a vast growth of this industry. Notably, when a poultry or poultry product leaves the processing plant, it travels with the package to reach the consumer. Therefore, appropriate packaging is an important part of poultry production, and application of novel and innovative technologies in this area is highly desirable. The most technologically advanced invention in the packaging industry is the intelligent packaging (IP) which can track the product, sense the environment inside or outside the package, and communicate and engage with customers. Some examples of IP include time-temperature indicators, biosensors, gas sensors, and data carriers. Using IP technology in the poultry meat and meat products has the potential to prolong shelf life, maximize meat quality and safety, and enhance customer engagement. Collectively, these improvements will greatly benefit the industry by increasing product sale, building consumer trust, and expanding market size nationally and internationally. In this paper, an overview of available IP technologies is presented and their potential application in the poultry industry is analyzed.