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.

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 also is available in the January 2010 issue of Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol. 9, Issue 1.

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

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. 

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? 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. 

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 (PDF)

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