Since we're tackling food labels today, it seems apropos that the Barf Blog again raises the issue of proper food safety stickers on take-out containers.
The stickers could be designed with information on when a prepared food was packaged and the proper guidelines for storing, heating and consuming. SuperMarket Guru believes that food safety labels could give supermarkets a competitive advantage, but could also be used to make people aware of potential food allergies.
Based on how take-out containers accumulate in office fridges, this could be a lifesaver. Why must office fridges become olfactory nightmares? Being able to see when something was packaged/purchased could lead to an easy decision about whether it survives the refrigerator purge -- without someone having the unfortunate task of smelling what's inside.
Besides instituting food safety stickers, it would be nice if someone could make a few improvements to standard clam-shell or takeout containers. If any packaging designers are reading this, please consider these invention ideas -- all we ask for is a prototype at Fat City before they come to market.
A taco or burger holder equivalent to the coffee cup holder. The bag o' Taco Bell or the greasy sack of burgers would seem a bit classier if everything was stacked and separated. It would also make doling out a large order infinitely easier.
A slot for napkins in the base of clamshell or Chinese food packing. The container is going to leak, it's just a question of when. Diaper technology would also be an acceptable solution.
If we could solve those problems in addition to the toxic office fridge, we'd be ready for just about anything as a society.
[Image via Flickr: form sixteen]
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