PolyU joins battle against package tampering

New printing technology uses 'anti-erasing' ink that prevents removal of packaging informationResearchers at the Polytechnic University have developed a way to thwart counterfeiters and protect buyers from tainted goods.迷你倉Led by Professor Pauline Pei Li, the researchers have developed a new form of inkjet printing that prevents tampering with or removal of packaging information, such as expiry dates and where a product was made.Li said such tampering was a growing problem, particularly on the mainland, and posed a threat to public health, consumer confidence and brand values."There are lots of food safety problems in China. Even now, you don't know if a bottle of water is actually water," she said."There is an urgent need to develop advanced anti-counterfeiting technology. People on the mainland are losing confidence, particularly in dairy products."The mainland's dairy industry has been hit by a series of high-profile scandals in recent years.In August 自存倉ast year, its largest dairy producer, China Mengniu Dairy, came under fire after a sales manager reportedly falsified the production date on 3,000 boxes of milk products that were about to expire.Mengniu will be the first company to implement the new printing technology.The printing process devised by PolyU uses "anti-erasing ink" which cannot be dissolved by normal solvents.The ink also leaves irremovable trace marks that allow consumers to identify tampered goods and improves the traceability of products, said researcher Ho Yam.The process was commissioned by Hallyuen Holdings, a manufacturing group, which "realised the market need for the technology", Li said.More than 10 mainland companies, including big corporations in the dairy, beverage and food processing industries, have shown interest in implementing the new process, Hallyuen Holdings chairman Kent Ng said.The process will give companies peace of mind, Li said.Additional reporting by Darren Wee迷你倉新蒲崗