An electronic-ink based RFID tag for attachment to a consumer item and displaying graphical indicia indicating whether or not the item has been read and its integrated RFID module has been activated or deactivated. In response to privacy concerns of consumers, the present invention provides new way of and means for allowing a consumer to readily determine the state of an RFID tag on a consumer item (i.e. activated or deactivated) through the use of a visual indicator integrated with the electronic-ink based RFID tag. The RFID tag has an addressable display label employing a layer of electronic ink, for displaying a first visual indicator when its RFID module has been activated to indicate that the unique identifier associated consumer item has not yet be read, and a second visual indicator when the RFID module has been deactivated to indicate that the unique identifier associated the consumer item has been read.