UK stores to trial fruit ripeness sensors

Sensor labels that indicate when fruit is ripe will be trialled in UK stores.

Tesco is initially testing the sensors on packs of its fresh pears.

The sensors react to the fruit’s aroma and turn from red to yellow as they mature, the chain said.

They were created by scientists in New Zealand who are working to adapt the sensors for other fruit.

Tesco fruit technical manager Shaun Doherty said: “In order to cut down on pear bruising we are trialling this new packaging which will also allow shoppers to buy fruit that will ripen later in the week.”

The sensor is on the inside top of the packaging. It changes from a red colour when the pears are crunchy through to yellow when they are soft.

Packs of pears with the new sensors will appear in Tesco stores from tomorrow.