Internet Traceability System Launched for Food Processors

An Internet-based interface that allows food processors to see which country every ingredient has come from and each process a product goes through in the factory is set to significantly overhaul food chain traceability.

The Northern Ireland-based venture TraceAssured launched its online traceability initiative last week, promising to cut out many of the time-consuming headaches faced by food makers who identify a problem in the supply chain.

Dr. Ken Baird, chairman of the company, said the system offers information on the entire food chain, from farm to fork, within minutes, compared with hours or days required in current traceability systems.

"It uses a novel approach as it traces containers instead of batches. Each container has a barcode, which can in the future be replaced by a RFID chip," he said. "The system registers a time when each process happens and where, presenting everything in a visual way. For example, it can bring up a factory layout or even a global map to show ingredients sourced in China or Brazil."

The project is aimed at increasing consumer trust in the global food industry, which has suffered in recent years from a series of food safety crises, particularly in the meat sector. Consumers are now also demanding greater transparency for all kinds of food products and want to know where their food comes from and which ingredients have been used.

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