Formulation of inkjet inks for egg coding applications using dyes extracted from waste food products (EGGCODE)

The objectives of this work are to develop colorants extracted from natural resources to produce ink formulations that have good adhesion to the eggshell, with excellent water fastness, with no penetration of the colorant into the egg interior, coupled with good reliability in an inkjet printer. These will be formulated to promote rapid drying times to provide the high print definition required for barcoding, enabling an increase in the information placed on an egg. If successful, this project will enable novel food grade products, which contain dyes supplied from a UK source, to be manufactured within the UK and sold globally. These naturally-derived colorants will afford a reduced environmental and toxicological impact, compared to currently available products. The technology will ensure that durable codes exist on the eggshell, which will enhance security, safety, and traceability for this food product. These inks will offer the end user the opportunity of increased brand differentiation both between their product lines and with their competitors.