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 seeking panel members for product tracing pilots
As IFT completes the identification of companies participating in the processed food and produce pilots, IFT is assembling panels (one for each pilot) to help conduct the pilots, analyze the results, and propose recommendations. The panels will primarily be comprised of pilot participants. However, IFT is also seeking 1-2 additional panel members for each panel. Those interested in applying for a position on the panels should contact Caitlin Hickey at chickey@ift.org by Dec 1 with the following information: resume or CV, and a paragraph describing your experience and qualifications. Note that panelists will be bound by non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, and there will be no compensation or reimbursement for participation. Those from the 3rd party technology/solution provider community will be considered only if their experience and insight cannot be otherwise obtained. Preference will be given to food industry members, trade association representatives, consultants, and academics (in that order). Other interested parties are encouraged to contact Caitlin Hickey for more information.
This is also a reminder that the Stakeholder Input Questions (below) are due December 1, 2011.
IFT looking for food industry participants for the IFT/FDA Tracing Pilots!
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is leading two pilot programs for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that are designed to test and study various product tracing systems. Tomatoes and a ready to eat or non ready to eat complex food product containing meat, spices, and peanut containing ingredients have been chosen as the two food items to be involved in the pilots. IFT is now looking for volunteers (growers, suppliers, distributors, processors, retail facilities, etc.) that handle either product. They are looking for all types of participants—from farm to retail/foodservice, including small businesses. IFT would appreciate any possible volunteers reaching out to others within their supply chain then contacting IFT with their joint interest.
IFT aims to determine volunteers as soon as possible, securing them by November 30, 2011. The pilots will occur in the first quarter of 2012.
PLEASE READ THE ATTACHMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PARTICIPATION
Please contact Caitlin Hickey at chickey@ift.org or 202-330-4985 for more information or requests to participate.
IFT Seeks Stakeholder Input for Tracing Pilot Programs
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) will lead two pilot programs for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to test and study various product tracing systems. IFT wants to engage as many stakeholders as possible, from all disciplines, in the process of completing the tracing pilot programs. While it's difficult to meet with every person – IFT is committed to ensuring that all voices are heard and all perspectives are considered in our analysis and recommendations. IFT is currently developing questions to solicit input in specific aspects of the study.
Audio clips of Stakeholder Input is available for the following sessions:
Background information: The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) will lead two pilot programs for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to test and study various product tracing systems. The purpose of these pilots will be to identify methods to rapidly and effectively trace food products throughout the supply chain so that, during a food-related outbreak, products can be quickly identified and removed from the marketplace, which will ultimately help minimize the number of consumers affected by a contaminated product.
Further information about the pilot programs can be found at
IFT to Execute New Product Tracing Pilot Studies for FDA
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) announced that it will lead two pilot programs for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to test and study various product tracing systems. The purpose of these pilots will be to identify methods to rapidly and effectively trace food products throughout the supply chain so that, during a food-related outbreak, products can be quickly identified and removed from the marketplace, which will ultimately help minimize the number of consumers affected by a contaminated product. Click here to read full story.
August 2011 Traceability Summit
On the heels of a successful, thought-stimulating event in July, a group of nearly 50 product tracing experts reconvened on August 22. Representatives from many parts of the food system, including food companies, trade associations, state and Federal government representatives, and technology providers discussed some ongoing and future pilot studies, as well as various approaches to achieve product tracing. The meeting was held in cooperation with GS1 US, who sponsored the event, and IFT's Traceability Improvement Initiative, supported by BASF Nutrition & Health and Underwriters Laboratories at the Silver level and the Fisheries Scholarship Fund of the National Fisheries Institute at the Bronze level. Learn more about the highlights here. The full proceedings will be published in the Journal of Food Science soon.
July 2011 Traceability Research Summit Highlights
IFT hosted a meeting of nearly 50 thought-leaders in traceability on July 14. Representatives from many parts of the food system, including food companies, trade associations, state and Federal government representatives, and technology providers discussed some of the key attributes of the traceability system of the future, and the key requirements and challenges related to achieving a common vision. The meeting was funded by IFT's Traceability Improvement Initiative, supported by BASF Nutrition & Health and Underwriters Laboratories at the Silver level and the Fisheries Scholarship Fund of the National Fisheries Institute at the Bronze level. Learn more about the highlights here. The full proceedings will be published in the Journal of Food Science soon.
Support IFT's Traceability Improvement Initiative
Through December, 2012 a limited number of organizations will be able to contribute to IFT's Traceability Improvement Initiative, which supports programs such as the July 2011 Traceability Research Summit, is augmenting the research associated with the NCFPD interoperability study, and supports the publication and dissemination of product tracing resources that aid companies and organizations world-wide. The benefits of participation are numerous, and additional information is available.
IFT Discusses Traceability with EC-BP during the 2011 GS1 US UConnect Conference
IFT's Jennifer McEntire talks about the variety of players that need to participate in a discussion of traceability, and the steps needed to move forward.
http://www.ec-bp.org
IFT conducting Food Product Tracing Technology Capabilities and Interoperability study for the National Center for Food Protection and Defense (NCFPD)
Despite the best efforts of food safety professionals, contaminated food continues to enter the food supply. It is imperative that contaminated food be removed from the supply chain as quickly as possible to protect public health and stabilize markets. IFT is expanding on the findings of our previous work in traceability to understand the capability of currently available technologies to predict the downstream consequences of an upstream event, or the likely upstream source of contamination given a downstream event, and explore the interoperability of currently available traceability technology solutions. Through this project, IFT will determine i) the critical points throughout the food supply chain where product tracing data must be collected, and the appropriate data elements to collect; ii) the current capabilities of product tracing technologies; iii) the ability of product tracing technology providers to work collaboratively to trace products; iv) ways to further develop product tracing systems to increase interoperability and utility. The reports were submitted to NCFPD for this two year project that started in the fall of 2010.
Food Product Tracing Technology Capabilities and Interoperability 2/2011 – 4/2011
Food Product Tracing Technology Capabilities and Interoperability 5/2011 – 8/2011
2011 White Paper Expands on CTE and KDE Concepts
IFT in January 2011 released a white paper clarifying the concepts of Critical Tracking Events and Key Data Elements. The paper provides examples and an analogy to HACCP, and has very practical applications for those looking to build their product tracing plans.
2009 IFT Report Findings and Recommendations to FDA: Traceability (Product Tracing) in Food Systems
A 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.
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
This report is available in the January 2010 issue of Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol. 9, Issue 1.
2009 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.
Report (pdf)
IFT Food Product Tracing Webcasts
IFT offers a number of webcasts available for on-demand download, of which the following, located in the "food safety and defense" area, relate to product tracing:
2011 Understanding Critical Tracking Events and Key Data Elements
2011 Understanding How GS1 Standards Allow Information to be Identified, Captured, and Shared
2009 The Challenges of Traceability
2009 Product Traceability - How Far Is Enough in Today's Marketplace?
Additional IFT Traceability Offerings
Moving Ahead on Traceability
Accessible to IFT members, this report offers the perspectives of several food system stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities associated with product tracing since the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Neil Mermelstein. Food Technology June 2011, Volume 65, No. 6
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.
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
IFT Presentations (PDF)
In the News
Call for Comments
IFT commented on recordkeeping and records access requirements in response to Federal Register Notice FDA-2011-N-0016.