Abstract: Provided herein is a degassing valve for a consumer product (e.g., a dry foodstuff, a cannabis-containing medicinal or recreational product, etc.) that has an enticing or pleasant aroma. Such a valve includes a valve body, a one-way valve element positioned on the valve body, and, preferably, a filter associated with said valve body wherein the filter is configured to facilitate the passage of a gas. The gas may be selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and methane, or mixtures thereof. Additionally, the gas contains one or more aroma-conferring volatile molecule species responsible for the aroma characteristic of the product. The filter of the valve body may include activated charcoal, an activated charcoal mixture or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein is a degassing valve for a dry consumer product (e.g., a dry foodstuff, a cannabis-containing medicinal or recreational product, etc.) that has an enticing or pleasant aroma. Such a valve includes a valve body, a one-way valve element positioned on the valve body, and, preferably, a filter associated with said valve body wherein the filter is configured to facilitate the passage of a gas. The gas may be selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and methane, or mixtures thereof. Additionally, the gas contains one or more aroma-conferring volatile molecule species responsible for the aroma characteristic of the product. The filter of the valve body may include activated charcoal, an activated charcoal mixture or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein is a degassing valve for a foodstuff product including a valve body, a one-way valve element positioned on the valve body, and a filter associated with said valve body wherein the filter is configured to facilitate the passage of a gas. The gas may be selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and methane. Additionally, the gas may be a longer molecular chain gas that comprises the aroma of the product. The filter of the valve body may include activated charcoal, an activated charcoal mixture or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the foodstuff product comprises breadcrumbs, spices, or other flavorful dry foods, the aroma(s) of which can provide an important marketing benefit.

Abstract: One variation of a method for controlling access to products from a vending machine includes: locking a door of the vending machine; recording an initial inventory of products arranged within the vending machine based on signals received by a radio antenna arranged within the vending machine and read by a radio frequency identification reader; initiating a transaction in response to receiving a cashless payment mechanism from a patron; unlocking the door in response to authentication of the cashless payment mechanism; in response to closure of the door, recording a final inventory of products within the vending machine based on signals received by the radio antenna and read by the radio frequency identification reader; and initiating a payment with the cashless payment mechanism for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory to complete the transaction.

Abstract: One variation of a method for dynamically pricing vended products includes: identifying a purchase pattern of a user at a vending machine; in response to an approaching sell-by date for a unit of a product loaded into the vending machine and based on the purchase pattern, setting a discount rate for the unit of the product for the user; transmitting an electronic communication to an account associated with the user, the electronic communication indicating the discount rate for the unit of the product; identifying the user in a transaction initiated at the vending machine; and in response to selection of the unit of the product from the vending machine during the transaction, initiating a payment with a payment mechanism supplied by the user according to the discount rate.

Abstract: One variation of a method for controlling access to products from a vending machine includes: locking a door of the vending machine; recording an initial inventory of products arranged within the vending machine based on signals received by a radio antenna arranged within the vending machine and read by a radio frequency identification reader; initiating a transaction in response to receiving a cashless payment mechanism from a patron; unlocking the door in response to authentication of the cashless payment mechanism; in response to closure of the door, recording a final inventory of products within the vending machine based on signals received by the radio antenna and read by the radio frequency identification reader; and initiating a payment with the cashless payment mechanism for a difference between the initial inventory and the final inventory to complete the transaction.

Abstract: A kitchen utensil for facilitating the removal of the contents from boil-in-the-foil type food pouches (retort pouches). Such retort pouches are usually made from a laminate of three materials, i.e. polyester, which forms the outer layer, aluminum foil, which forms a barrier in the middle, and an inner layer of polypropylene to retain the food taste. The utensil has an elongated handle and a pair of elongated prongs extending in parallel from the handle at one end. The length of the prongs is at least as great as the width of the pouch. The prongs define a gap between them dimensioned to snugly receive two layers of the pouch material. The pouch can thus be inserted into the gap and the prongs moved over the pouch to cause the contents to be squeezed towards one end of the pouch. The utensil preferably also has a pouch opening device located at the free end of one of the prongs.