Abstract: A metal co-ordinated complex in a medium, e.g. a palladium-fluorophore, may be used to detect food spoilage products by the release of a detectable component by preferential binding of the metal to, for example, sulphur compounds or amines. It can be easy to detect food spoilage in sealed packs.

Abstract: A method of removing small quantities of entrained oxygen from sealed packages containing an oxidizable product said method utilizing a particulate catalyst which has high activity for combining hydrogen and oxygen, the catalyst particles being partially encapsulated on a surface of a water-insoluble adhesive which is applied to a predetermined area of the inside surface of the sealed package. The catalyst can be a platinum group metal supported on a porous inert carrier. The adhesive material can be poly(vinylbutyral), nitrocellulose, ethyl cellulose, a polyurethane or a silicone material (e.g., a silicone rubber). The oxidizable product can be a perishable foodstuff.