logo

Exhibiting at Seafood Expo North America 2025

2267
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts
16 Mar - 18 Mar, 2025

Product Offerings

Products:

Time Temperature Indicators (TTIs): Freshtag™ L5-8, Freshtag™ Shell Safe Shipping, Freshtag™ Catering

Industries Served: Seafood, Shellfish, Ready-to-Eat Meals, Home Delivery, Airline Catering

Vitsab International AB, headquartered in Limhamn, Sweden, is a pioneering R&D-driven company specializing in intelligent labeling technologies for perishable goods. The company is best known for its proprietary Freshtag™ product line—innovative Time Temperature Indicators (TTIs) that provide real-time insights into cold chain integrity and product freshness across various food and logistics sectors.

Core Business and Product Portfolio

At the core of Vitsab’s operations is the development and commercialization of smart indicators designed to monitor and visually communicate time-temperature exposure of sensitive food products. The Freshtag™ product line includes:

  • Freshtag™ L5-8: TTI calibrated specifically for raw seafood shelf life monitoring, particularly for high-value items like sushi-grade tuna and shellfish.
  • Freshtag™ Shell Safe Shipping: Designed to maintain traceable cold chain integrity during shellfish transportation.
  • Freshtag™ Catering: Developed for ready-to-eat and airline catering segments to support HACCP compliance and reduce food waste.

These single-use, color-changing smart labels offer immediate visual confirmation of time-temperature abuse, helping retailers, foodservice operators, and logistics providers enhance food safety and optimize product rotation.

Specialization and Core USP

Vitsab’s primary innovation lies in its enzyme-based TTI technology, which mimics the perishability profile of specific food products. The USP of Freshtag™ includes:

  • Non-toxic, food-safe formulation that responds predictably to time and temperature changes
  • Calibration tailored to product type and expected shelf life
  • Clear, irreversible visual change from green to red to indicate spoilage
  • Supports FSMA and HACCP traceability requirements for the U.S. and European markets

Unlike conventional temperature loggers, Freshtag™ provides end-to-end visibility to all stakeholders—including end-consumers—without the need for scanning devices or digital infrastructure.

Certifications and Compliance

While Freshtag™ products are not classified as food additives or packaging, they are developed in compliance with international safety and environmental standards. The company ensures:

  • Use of REACH- and RoHS-compliant materials
  • Compliance with US FDA and EU food contact safety norms for packaging components
  • Full traceability documentation for use in HACCP and ISO 22000-certified facilities

Vitsab's technologies help customers meet regulatory requirements for cold chain verification under frameworks like the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and EU Regulation 852/2004 on food hygiene.

Market Reach and Adoption

Vitsab's Freshtag™ technology is deployed globally, with its core markets in:

  • United States (FDA-regulated seafood and meal-kit sectors)
  • Japan and South Korea (high-value sashimi and sushi supply chains)
  • Scandinavia and Western Europe (retail and logistics)
  • Airline Catering operations across Europe and the Middle East

According to public and industry sources, Freshtag™ has been adopted by:

  • Over 200 seafood processors and distributors
  • Major international airlines for in-flight meal monitoring
  • Meal-kit companies and home delivery services across North America and Europe

In particular, adoption has grown in the shellfish export industry, where product spoilage risk is high and shelf life is short.

R&D and Innovation Capabilities

As a research-intensive organization, Vitsab maintains an active product development pipeline, supported by collaborations with:

  • Academic research institutions in food science and cold chain logistics
  • EU-funded innovation programs focused on sustainable packaging and food waste reduction
  • Industry partners seeking custom-calibrated indicators for new product categories

Their lab capabilities allow for precise enzyme calibration based on specific perishability curves, giving them a competitive edge over generic TTI manufacturers.

Financial and Operational Insights

While financials are not publicly disclosed, Vitsab operates as a privately held company with a lean structure and technology licensing model. Key revenue drivers include:

  • Sale of millions of Freshtag™ units annually
  • White-label partnerships with seafood and shellfish exporters
  • Custom indicator development contracts with major foodservice players

The unit economics of Freshtag™ offer a compelling value proposition—each tag costs a fraction of the product’s retail value while protecting against total spoilage.

Client Case Studies and Outcomes

Real-world data from seafood exporters show:

  • Reduction in product claims and spoilage by over 30%
  • Increased customer trust and premium positioning when using visible TTIs
  • Faster customs clearance in export markets due to enhanced traceability documentation

Clients have reported significant improvements in inventory rotation, last-mile delivery safety, and regulatory audit readiness after implementing Freshtag™ technology.

Industry Presence and Recognition

Vitsab International AB and its Freshtag™ product line are regularly showcased at global seafood and food safety trade fairs, including:

  • Seafood Expo Global
  • Seafood Expo North America
  • Anuga FoodTec
  • LogiPharma Europe

They have been featured in industry publications such as SeafoodSource, Food Logistics, and Cold Chain Tech Brief for their innovation in sustainable, non-digital traceability.

Summary

Vitsab International AB is at the forefront of cold chain transparency and food safety technology. Through its Freshtag™ TTI system, the company empowers producers, logistics providers, and retailers to enhance product quality assurance, reduce waste, and meet increasingly stringent global compliance standards. With scientifically-backed innovation, expanding global adoption, and a clear focus on perishable goods traceability, Vitsab continues to define the next generation of intelligent food labeling solutions.