The invention relates to device (10) for monitoring the degradation of a perishable product, this device being designed to be placed in the proximity of the product, this device comprising: A time measuring module (12), such as a clock, and at least one sensor (14) measuring at least one extrinsic variable of the product representing the preservation conditions of this product, such as the temperature, the relative humidity, the atmospheric composition. a programme memory (16) for memorising a programme representing a specific degradation model of a monitored product, a processor (18), using the programme representing the degradation model to calculate the condition of degradation of the product according to the time and values of the extrinsic variables measured by the sensor. a data memory (20) for storing the intrinsic parameters of the product, the intrinsic parameters of the product being its pH and/or its texture, and/or its activity in water, and/or the quantity of organic acid it contains, and/or its heat transfer coefficient, and/or the limiting flora it contains, and/or the enzyme degradation products, and/or the redox potential, changes in the intrinsic parameters being taken into account in the degradation model, so that the degradation calculation carried out by the processor is only based on the extrinsic variables and time.