RFID tags keep the sake fresh

Premium sake has to be kept at a constant temperature to maintain its quality, but keeping it at just the right temp isn't easy when it's being shipped. So a group of companies led by NTT have started a pilot program to tag sake bottles with RFID tags with built-in temperature sensors. Sensors on trucks send data back to the mothership via 3G, letting HQ know whether any of the bottles are at risk (and presumably letting them know if the driver has decided to crack open a case as well). When the bottles are brought to stores, a reader lets customers check the bottle's temp history, so he can be sure it's been kept fresh from door to door. Sounds like a system that could catch on for premium spirits of all stripes -- though we'll know things have gotten a little out of hand if we start seeing RFID tags stuck to the 40s in our corner deli.

[The icollector @ Mar 11th 2006 11:27AM]

The future of these tags...priceless.

[Nick F @ Mar 11th 2006 11:53AM]

The same idea is used with fish and things. iButtons do it already.
http://www.maxim-ic.com/products/ibutton/products/ibuttons.cfm#dataloggers

[Hunter @ Mar 11th 2006 12:24PM]

I mentioned to a guy at work the other day that his Mastercard blink card had an RFID chip in it and he looked at me like I was crazy.

[bill @ Mar 11th 2006 1:16PM]

FYI: the excellent sake set pictured in the post is available here:

http://www.joannehudson.com/shop/flypage/category/dinnerware_asa/product/black_sake_set

I have both the white and black set. they rock

[Onecos @ Mar 11th 2006 6:42PM]

Right now I'm in Japan sitting in my hotel room drinking One Cup purchased at 7-11. Looked for the RFID and couldn't find it. Guess it's not a high end Sake.

[Wataru Tenga @ Mar 11th 2006 6:56PM]

The trial runs only two weeks, starting March 27, and the sake will be available only in one store. Note that two different kinds of RFID tags are being used. One has a built-in temperature sensor and is rather large (attached to the carton), the other is a thin label on each bottle that stores an ID. The ID is used in retrieving information from a data center about the sake. Another key part of the system is a portable cool box, which gets its power from the hybrid system of the truck, and which can be unloaded with the sake still inside.

This kind of special care isn't necessary with most sake, which is pasteurized, but only with namazake, or unpasteurized sake, which has a fresh, zingy complex set of flavors not found in the ordinary stuff.

[Monopole @ Mar 12th 2006 1:29AM]

Actually, the use of this tech to track the essential "cold chain" associated with vaccines could be a major boost for disease eradication.

[RFIDster @ Mar 12th 2006 12:14PM]

Very cool........ But do not click on my name

[renae the GPS expert @ Aug 25th 2006 10:05PM]

wow,another great use for technology we didn't previouly know was possible. thanks for the tips, i can see many possibilities for this type of information in the future.