A combination RFID tag intended to be associated with a host product, for
example by being secured to the outside of a package containing a
perishable product, e.g. foodstuffs or vaccines, which RFID tag is
provided with a visually readable environmental condition exposure
indicator. The visual indicator can sense the exposure of the RFID tag to
an environmental condition e.g. temperature, experienced by the host
product providing a visual indication, e.g. a color change, readable
externally of the RFID tag of the sensed environmental condition. The
visual indicator can be chemically active, for example an acetylenic
agent, and may be responsive to cumulative temperature excursions over
time. The novel RFID tag 11 and tag inspection methods of the invention
permit an efficacious harnessing of information about the condition
exposure history of a specific inventory item including product
identification and related data. The information from multiple items can
be compiled into a database that may be audited or statistically analyzed
to reveal useful information regarding the handling of the items.