Stickers to keep fruit fresh

About 52% of fresh fruits and vegetables go to waste in the US during transportation, but the Stixfresh sticker aims to help combat food waste. Developed by Malaysian inventor Zhafri Zainudin, the edible sticker may be able to prolong the shelf life of fruit by up to 14 days by slowing down the ripening process.

The coating is made up of a formula of beeswax and ionised sodium chloride, and has GRAS (generally recognised as safe) status in accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Compounds within the formulation work to create a protective layer around the fruit. Studies have shown that slowing down the ripening process extends the freshness of a wide variety of fruits by up to 50%.

Although it was originally invented for mangoes, the label has applications for fruits of similar size and texture, such as apples, pears, kiwis, avocados, oranges and other citrus fruits. The company is also looking to develop smaller stickers for fruits with softer skins, such as berries, and vegetables.

Zainudin and co-founder Moody Soliman believe the sticker has the potential to benefit large producers and individual consumers, reducing household food waste and saving money.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/jon manjeot