Bibliography

(1) Bureau of Economic Analysis - Dept. of Commerce 2004
(2) 2004 Edition, The Global Market for Convenience Foods and Ready Meals - Just Food.com
(3) 2006 - 73rd Annual Report of the Grocery Industry - Progressive Grocer, April 2006

Glossary of Terms

Converter — The industry term commonly used for companies that make labels.  It also can refer to specific label making machinery.

Line Item — Any individual package is called a line item.

Thermochromic — a thermally-induced color change that can be caused by a variety of chemical interactions.  Most such changes are reversible.  To prevent quality tampering or willful harm to consumers, SIRA’s activated thermochromic compound will be irreversible.

Track and Trace: Traceability/product tracing: the ability to follow the movement of a food through specified stage(s) of  production, processing and distribution.  

Transinformative — a term coined by SIRA to distinguish its barcode design as one that modifies its message when tampering or harmful conditions are detected.

TTI — Time Temperature Integrator (TTIs) are devices that are capable of reporting the time-temperature exposure as well as shelf-life history of the product.  TTIs are often referred to as Time & Temperature, or Track & Trace Integrators.  Integrator denotes the combination of both elements into one reading.