An experiment has begun in which the freshness of fresh foods such as vegetables and fruits is displayed on a smartphone app and sold at an online supermarket.
The selling price fluctuates according to the freshness, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will verify whether it will lead to the reduction of so-called "food loss".
This experiment was started on the 20th of this month by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in cooperation with major supermarkets such as Ito-Yokado.
Fresh foods such as vegetables and fruits are equipped with equipment called "electronic tags" that show the place of origin and distribution channels, and temperature and humidity measuring instruments, and the freshness is managed based on the information obtained from them.
Consumers order products while checking their freshness with the smartphone app.
Since the selling price fluctuates according to the freshness, you can check the freshness even after the product arrives at home, so we will verify whether it will lead to reduction of so-called "food loss" from the distribution to consumption stage. ..
A woman who participated in the experiment said, "Because we can see the freshness numerically, we will be aware that we should use it when the freshness decreases."
Masamichi Ito, Chief of the Consumption and Distribution Policy Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, said, "By using electronic tags for fresh food, you will be able to see the data at home and in stores. Are these efforts effective in reducing food loss? I want to verify it. "