Researchers at the University of Sunderland in the U.K. have announced the development of an edible printed label for foods that can provide consumers with information about the product and potentially reduce unnecessary packaging. The research considered food quality standards to develop labels that could be placed directly on all types of foods including fish, fruit, vegetables, baked goods, drinks, and meats. Users can then scan the labels to access relevant information.

Project partner Peter Woods said “the way we buy our food will drastically change in the coming years. Climate change, as well as the demand from customers, is driving supermarkets and other food providers to drastically reduce their packaging. The application we have developed enables customers to get the relevant information they need about nutrition, sourcing allergies and how to dispose of any waste, without the need for excessive packing.”

The project is applying for a patent through the company Label Says Ltd and is a collaboration funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).