What specific event causes the sensor developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) to change color?
Answer
Detection of bacterial growth on the food surface
The sensor engineered by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst utilizes a visual, color-changing indicator approach, which is designed to be straightforward for consumers to interpret immediately. This indicator is specifically designed to react chemically when it detects an increase in bacterial growth occurring on the surface of the food product. When this threshold of microbial load is surpassed, the resulting visible shift in color signals to the consumer that the safety or quality status has degraded beyond an acceptable level, offering a direct visual assessment of contamination rather than relying on abstract time measurements.

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