What is the intended effect of replacing printed dates with an analog freshness assessment for the end-user?
Answer
Reducing consumer food waste while flagging items that spoiled prematurely due to handling errors
The primary goal for the end-user is to move from a generic, often misleading printed date to an analog assessment reflecting the product's actual handling history. This leads to two major benefits: first, consumers gain confidence to use food that is past the printed date but remains fresh, thus reducing unnecessary food waste. Second, the indicator simultaneously flags items that may have spoiled prematurely due to unnoticed handling errors or storage mishaps during the supply chain, thereby enhancing immediate safety awareness.

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