The global food supply chain has evolved as companies seek to enhance their capabilities to feed the world’s growing population. As the importance of food traceability continues to grow, you can depend on Griffin-Rutgers to provide labelers and coders to meet the demand.
Traceability allows the food to be tracked through all stages of production, processing and distribution. It allows for packaging and products to be traced one step backwards or forwards at any point in the supply chain. 
For food processing businesses, traceability should extend to being able to fully identify the source of all food inputs such as:
- Additives
- Raw materials
- Other ingredients
- Packaging
Food traceability enables any corrective actions to be acted upon immediately and efficiently when something goes wrong. When a potential food safety problem is identified, whether by a food business, or a government agency, having an effective system in place can help isolate and prevent contaminated products from reaching the consumer.
It also allows food businesses to target the product or products affected, minimizing disruption to trade, and any potential risk to the public. It’s important that any company involved in the food industry – including retailers and importers – to be able to trace products.
An effective traceability system relies on the ability to track product during every stage, even after it reaches the consumer’s table. Food manufacturers have systems in place that includes procedures for identifying producers, suppliers, customers and products. All of which have records of:
- name and address (and other contact details) of suppliers and a description of products or inputs supplied
- name and addresses (and other contact details) of customers and a description of the product supplied to them
- date of transaction or delivery
- batch or lot identification (or other markings)
- volume or quantity of product supplied or received
- any other relevant production records
One way to ensure that the products leaving your facility can be effectively traced is with 2D code and bar code-based technology. At Griffin-Rutgers, we offer a variety of labeling systems that can efficiently and accurately apply a bar code to your product.
When it comes to public health, traceability will speed up the time it takes to correct the problem.
- Preparedness: When planning for an emergency situation, traceability provides greater visibility into a supply chain, thereby helping be better prepared if something goes wrong.
- Response: In case something goes wrong, traceability improves the agility of the response by all stakeholders.
- Recovery: During the recovery phase, traceability allows the industry and regulators to maintain or rebuild trust with consumers into the safety and resiliency of the food system.
- Prevention: Traceability allows for the determination of causality of the problem through root cause analysis, thereby preventing future issues.
Innovations in coding and labeling technology will result in food traceability systems becoming smarter and more efficient. Coupled with technology, are regulatory and industry standards that will influence this change.
It will be about using a combination of artificial intelligent systems to transform the way we live our lives and sustain ourselves though the foods we eat.
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