There has been increasing concern about the effective tracing of foods and food ingredients, particularly since a salmonella outbreak in peanut products early this year that killed nine and caused at least 714 illnesses across 46 states. The huge product recall that followed was expanded four times as the ubiquity of the affected peanut ingredients was recognized. And as the global food network becomes more intertwined, keeping tabs on where each ingredient in every food product originates becomes ever more challenging.
IFT experts consulted with 58 diverse food companies during the preparation of its report, which was commissioned by the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) last year. It examined international standards and regulations regarding food traceability, reviewed different tracing methods, and looked at product tracing in non-food industries in order to come up with several recommendations for how the food industry can better track ingredients and products throughout the supply chain.
“Overall, all food companies participating in this study acknowledge the importance of an effective (rapid and precise) product tracing system in safe guarding their supply chain,” it said.
The institute’s recommendations include creating a standard list of key data that needs to be collected at each stage along the food chain – from farm to retailer or restaurant; developing more thorough, standardized recordkeeping methods; keeping records in electronic format; requiring a third-party audit of a company’s tracking system; and providing training guidance on food tracing systems.
IFT acknowledged that some of its recommendations could prove costly to implement, but said that companies could also see benefits as a result.
“A rapid response to an accidental or intentional contamination or other triggering event through improved product tracing would yield social benefits beyond the direct benefits and cost reductions to the firms,” it said.
The report concluded: “Once the expectation for product tracing is agreed upon, mechanisms should be developed to check compliance, such as incorporation into inspections and audits.
“Ultimately, tracing products occurs in a system, not in a firm alone. However, no product tracing system can be effective without product tracing in place at the firm level.”
The IFT report can be accessed online here.