iPhone ‘appcessory’ detects whether or not food is truly organic

August 22, 2012

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Source: Hang The Bankers

The dramatic rise in demand for food that is untainted by pesticides and other unnatural chemicals begs the question, how can you really know for sure whether or not that “organic” peach or “biological” avocado is truly what it says it is? Well, an upcoming iPhone app-slash-accessory, or “appcessory,” known as Lapka will soon be able to answer that question, as the visually-stunning “personal environment monitor” will be fully capable of differentiating between the real organic deal and the sneaky imposter.

The four-component device, which has been crafted and designed in the clean, minimalist tradition of the iPhone, will be capable of detecting background radiation levels; electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs); humidity and temperature; and of course organic and non-organic food. And it is Lapka’s organic food component in particular that will be a tremendously useful tool for the natural health community to hold food producers and suppliers responsible for the claims they make, as well as help parents make better informed purchasing decisions.

You can view images of Lapka and read brief descriptions of its amazing functions here:
http://www.mylapka.com

After plugging the other end of the organic detection component into an iPhone, Lapka’s unique stainless steel probe can then be inserted into a piece of fruit, vegetable, or other food and activated to detect nitrate levels. The presence of nitrates is an indication that synthetic pesticides and other prohibited chemical compounds were used on that food, rendering it non-organic. But if nitrate levels are low or non-existent, then the food was likely grown and produced organically.

“More and more research has proven that manufacturers and food retailers are jumping on the ‘green’ bandwagon without actually working to stock their shelves with food that’s been properly treated and tested for synthetic pesticides and fertilizers,” writes Neha Prakash for Mashable, which recently produced a video report on Lapka. “Lapka hopes to be the whistleblower on that problem.”

The supermarket is not the only place where potential organic imposters are hiding. Farmers markets have also experienced dramatic growth over the past decade or so. Since farmers markets tend to cater to a more discerning crowd, there may be a tendency for some vendors to falsely label their products as organic when they might not actually be, a problem that could be solved by Lapka and devices similar to it.

Test background radiation levels with Lapka

Another area of health concern, especially since the disastrous earthquake and tsunami hit Fukushima, is background radiation levels. If a bulky geiger counter is not really your style, Lapka’s compact radiation detection component is a convenient alternative, as its sensors are said to be “insanely precise.” And like the organic detection component, the radiation monitor will provide a simple, easy-to-decipher readout of the data right on your iPhone screen.

“Particle by particle, [Lapka] will give you a readout of how [radiation] could be affecting you,” says Adam Falk from Mashable. “Lapka will reportedly have two ways to visualize information, one that simply tells you if the environment around you is ‘safe.’ The other is more abstract, choosing instead to give you a screen of floating particles that accelerate as the environment becomes ‘less safe.’”

The entire Lapka module with all four components will reportedly be available in December for about $220. It will come with a corresponding iPhone app that can be used to monitor, decode, and interpret the data.

To learn more about Lapka, visit: http://www.mylapka.com