Laser etching safe alternative for labeling grapefruit

New technology provides tamper-free option without reducing fruit quality

		IMAGE: This image shows laser etching on lemons and limes. Click here for more information.

LAKE ALFRED, FL—Laser labeling of fruit and vegetables is a new, patented technology in which a low-energy carbon dioxide laser beam is used to label, or "etch" information on produce, thereby eliminating the need for common sticker-type labels. The technology has been licensed for use on a variety of fruits and vegetables and is being used in New Zealand, Australia, and Pacific Rim countries. It has been been approved in Asia, South Africa, Central and South America, Canada, and the European Union. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the final stages of approving the use of laser etching in the United States.