A remote communication device, such as a radio frequency type device, that receives temperature indicia concerning a container and/or its contents and communicates such temperature indicia along with an identification indicia to a reader. The remote communication device can measure and communicate temperature indicia associated with a container in a periodic manner. The remote communication device can also measure and communicate temperature indicia associated with a container when such temperature indicia exceed a certain minimum or maximum threshold temperature. The remote communication device can also include power circuitry to store energy when energized in the range of an interrogation reader so that the remote communication device can be powered for temperature indicia measurements when not in the range of an interrogation reader. The temperature associated with the container and/or its contents may be determined by various techniques including thermal contact between the temperature sensor and the container, measuring the discharge rate in a discharge capacitor associated with the remote communication device, and determining the frequency of maximum energy absorption of the remote communication device to correlate it to temperature.