Food Items are essential commodities in this world regarding necessity in our daily lives. Food traceability & quality management was never so important before. It has become a vital aspect of any food industry’s success and future, whether it is the production line or the sales & distribution process.
In the wake of the current spinach, E. Coli outbreak and other diseases in recent years (such as SARS, e. coli, foodborne listeriosis, and salmonellosis), traceability – knowing where ingredients and products come from has never been a more effective policy tool.
Food traceability is a critical element in improving food safety in modern farming. Sustainable food production depends on accountability, traceability, and the need for an integrated, real-time supply chain solution capable of tracking produce, meat, and other foods source-to-shelf. Here is a look at the advantages of this growing trend in food service.
The Significance of Food Traceability in the Agro-Industry
Ensure Food Safety
With the remarkable progress of the Internet, the applications of RFID technology, and the introduction of information and data sharing, it is expected that the Internet of Things will accomplish remote control and the automatic identification of food products to provide consumers with more convenience; thereby allow for the validation of the chain of logistics to the sources, and effectively reduce the occurrence of food safety problems.
Surveillance for Food Adulteration
Pesticides are potentially toxic chemicals that can harm the human body. Various federal and state regulations regulate food supply chain management by limiting the amount of pesticide residue in foods to protect public health and the environment. Appropriate government departments and state regulatory agencies are monitoring the food safety issues.
Risk Assessment Framework for Food Safety and Traceability
Risk Assessment Framework for Food Safety and Traceability identifies in-depth the risks to the food supply and detailed methods of how to best manage those risks. Traceability helps to determine whether humans can consume food commodities safely or if their consumption must be restricted. Identifying the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure to a substance is part of assessing exposure.
Food Labeling Regulations
Food labels are confusing. Many people are busy and don’t have time to read the package, so they don’t understand what they’re eating or drinking. The European Union offers clear guidelines for the labeling of many food products.
New regulations make it easier for consumers to understand how foods affect the nutrients in their diets and make claims based on the specifications on labels. FDA made more than two dozen critical changes in implementing the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990.
Addressing the Challenges of Fraud and Abuse
The amount of grub fraud cases is increasing year after year. Fraud and abuse of food can lead to a systemic crisis. Food fraud is the deliberate addition of cheaper ingredients to food to increase profits. There are many areas in which fraud can occur, including raw materials, ingredients, the final product, and packaging.
Food grading ratings are a strategy for helping consumers decide which foods to buy. A trained or expert operator, a food inspector, or a laboratory usually is responsible for performing this task.
Food Waste Reduction
Improperly managed food waste can negatively impact the environment, the economy, and food security. Across US food companies, 9% of the 2016 inflation-adjusted sales went to products we never ate. Consumers throw away $218 billion of products, while companies discard $95 billion in unsold goods annually. Experts believe various factors contribute to food waste, including excessive processing, artificial expiration dates, and consumer confusion.
By implementing a traceability system based on standards, inventory and category management can be better controlled.
Ensure Food Hygiene
Antibiotic contamination of ready-to-eat foods has become a high priority for many governments and a key concern for food safety and public health organizations. Traceability and the ability to identify the source of a foodborne illness back to a specific location are important in identifying and controlling sources of foodborne illnesses.
Farmer Empowerment
As a result of food traceability, farmers can sell their products to international customers and track down the source of their products. Market prices are higher for farmers involved in this value chain.
Agricultural producers, such as corn farmers, use Geo-Tagging on corn bags to track the product from the farmstead to the processing plant and retail outlets.
Earn Consumer’s Trust
Tracking products from start to finish is critical in a global food system that keeps evolving and growing more complex. Consumer trust in the safety and quality of food and beverage products can be hard to come by. This is why food retailers and food-processing companies increasingly use traceability technology to build and enhance brand trust.
Consumers want to know where and how their food is grown, raised, and prepared. Knowing that information empowers them to make choices that support their values.
Conclusion
Traceability is essential. The food supply chain is vulnerable to outbreaks of foodborne illness and fraud. With rapid innovation and cost-effective digital technology, blockchain technology can help to create a safer and more efficient global food supply chain.