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Food Product Tracing
Food product tracing is critical at all levels of the food system to protect public health by isolating products early to help contain a food incident. The safety of the food supply requires a comprehensive and coordinated effort among all stakeholders throughout the supply chain from farm to fork. Effective product tracing would improve the efficiency and speed of response time following a food safety triggering event, and would greatly contribute to the protection of the public health and maintain consumer confidence following such an incident.
IFT Report Findings and Recommendations to FDA: Traceability (Product Tracing) in Food Systems
A new technical study commissioned by FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and released by the Institute of Food Technologists that recommends guidelines to establish a comprehensive product tracing system to track the movement of food products effectively from farm to table.
This report is available in the January 2010 issue of Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol. 9, Issue 1.
Traceability (Product Tracing) in Food Systems: An IFT Report Submitted to the FDA, Volume 1: Technical Aspects and Recommendations
Traceability (Product Tracing) in Food Systems: An IFT Report Submitted to the FDA, Volume 2: Cost Considerations and Implications
IFT Report Findings to FDA: Tracing Systems: An Exercise Exploring Data Needs and Design
A report summarizing the findings of a mock trace-back/trace forward exercise commissioned by FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition was released by the Institute of Food Technologists. The mock trace-back/trace forward exercise was able to show there is potential to expedite trace-backs by visualizing supply chains to find points of commonality based on data availability, capture, and readiness. The exercise also showed the value of collaboration to reach a shared goal and the need for standardization of data elements and interoperability necessary for trace-back/trace forward investigations.
IFT Food Product Tracing Webcasts
The Challenges of Traceability
In this interactive session, you'll get to hear from industry experts about traceability, including technologies available, relationship with country of origin labeling, and cost. You will also learn what your peers think and are doing about traceability. Background will be provided on the key outbreaks and issues that have brought this topic to the public and under the regulatory spotlight, and which regulations relate to traceability. You will also learn how IFT is involved in the issue of traceability with the Food and Drug Administration, and how you and your organization can become involved. Attendees are encouraged to participate in this interactive webcast, and to share experiences, challenges, and opportunities, which may include input on standardization, paper vs. electronic systems, technologies (barcode, RFID, etc.), and cost.
Product Traceability - How Far Is Enough in Today's Marketplace?
What are the first steps involved in developing a traceability system? How can manufacturers comply with the regulations? Will a traceability system minimize risk? Product developers, regulators, researchers, and QA/QC professionals will want to register for this timely webcast to gain answers to these and other questions. Join us for a discussion on how to comply with FDA regulations, and benefit from case studies that focus on capturing product traceability data. Examples of good record-keeping procedures will be shared, as will procedures for the tracking and tracing of products within a standardized format. Food manufacturers have three main objectives in using traceability systems: improve supply management, facilitate trace back for food safety and quality, and differentiate foods with subtle quality attributes. The benefits associated with these objectives include lower cost distribution systems, reduced recall expenses, and increased sales of products with attributes that are difficult to discern. In every case, the benefits of traceability translate into larger net revenues for the manufacturer. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to develop, implement, and sustain a successful and cost-effective product traceability system.
Additional IFT Traceability Offerings
IFT 2009 Global Food Safety and Quality Conference
June 10, 2009, Anaheim CA
This conference focused on Traceability in Food Systems: Technology vs. Reality and highlighted the need for traceability, current solutions and advances in traceability, and future research needs.
Presentation audio is now available at www.ift.org/learnonline.
Food Product Traceability: New Challenges, New Solutions
Recent food safety crises highlight the need for better traceability in the supply chain. New software options offer affordable tracking systems, even for small companies.
David Miller. Food Technology. January 2009, Volume 63, No. 1
Traceability in Food Systems
IFT’s Global Food Safety and Quality Conference focused on the challenges to and opportunities for implementing traceability technologies and programs in the supply chain.
IFT Presentations (PowerPoint)
IFT Traceability Task
Produce Traceabilities and Complexities
Product Tracing Recommendations provided at 12-10-09 meeting
Product Tracing Cost Evaluation provided at 12-10-09 meeting
In the News
IFT Press Release
Upcoming Events
Product Tracing Systems for Foods Public Meeting Announcement
IFT will be providing written comments to USDA FSIS and FDA based on the Federal Register Notice at the link above. If you are an IFT member interested in helping develop these comments please contact Jennifer McEntire at jcmcentire@ift.org by January 8, 2010. If you would like to share additional thoughts before the March 3, 2010 deadline for consideration by the drafting group, please let Jennifer know.
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