Know your onions: RFID tracks food's history

London – Design engineering student Hannes Harms has developed a concept, NutriSmart, that could track food using edible implanted RFID tags.

The innovation will be able to record food’s journey through the supply chain, interface with fridges to warn when items reach their use-by dates, and interact with ovens and other appliances to moderate cooking times.

The innovation will work with a smart plate – an RFID reader connected to a computer. The smart plate reader will access the information implanted in the food. People will be able to check ingredients for allergens, keep tabs on diets and check that ingredients are genuine.

This innovation will pave the way for a greater level of provenance in food, and become a tool for people to eat more healthily. For more about the future of food, read our Food Futures report, coming soon to The Future Laboratory’s online shop.