Technology’s new level of ingredient and product traceability
Software solutions help snack producers and bakers build a proven traceability plan to track ingredients and finished goods to prevent or handle product recalls.
Ingredient traceability is a growing compliance challenge for bakers and snack producers. Statistics show that the number of food-safety recalls has risen rapidly in recent years, and recalls are becoming more costly. Product recalls can cost companies millions of dollars, and damage to the brand’s reputation can impact sales potential for years to come. For companies impacted by recalls—including through potential ingredient contamination—rapid responsiveness is key to minimizing their impact.
In its “Food Traceability Survival Guide,” RFgen Software, El Dorado Hills, CA, cites a recent survey by RedPrairie, Alpharetta, GA, that reveals that only 52 percent of food companies can execute a recall within hours, as is expected with modern technology. As the guide notes: “Perhaps that is because 81 percent of companies surveyed were using either paper-based or only partially automated systems. All told, 46 percent of the companies were not fully compliant with current traceability regulations—including the Bioterrorism Act and the Food Modernization and Safety Act.”