Food inventory system

摘要

A method and device for ensuring the consumption of perishable food items before the safe storage lifetime of the items has elapsed. A base unit which is mounted near or removably attached to a food storage location such as a refrigerator and allows identification and timing of the stored food items. When an item is placed into the storage location, its name and storage lifetime are recorded on the base unit. This recording may be accomplished manually by writing directly onto the base unit or by use of handwritten or preprinted labels, or recording may be accomplished electronically through a microprocessor-controlled base unit. For ease of later location the item may be optionally stored inside of food storage containers that are color coded to the base unit. The base unit also provides an electronic timing display for each stored item. This display can be activated when an item is stored so that the length of time an item has been stored can be readily determined and compared with the safe storage lifetime that is also provided for each food item.