Traceability - Food Safety and Beyond!

Malaysia’s food import is said to cost more than RM30 billion. This means a large amount of food we consume is imported; from vegetables and fruits to processed food. In the wake of global food safety scandals from melamine to clostridium contamination of milk to Listeria in apples, the global food supply chain has been constantly challenged – so is consumer confidence in the integrity of the food supply chain. 

Some food safety experts call for increased local production and less dependence on imported food. But does this actually improve food safety and consumer confidence? Imported or local - where exactly does our food come from, and how can we make sure it is safe?

How Do We Protect Our Food Supply?

Whilst consumers need to know what they eat and whether it’s safe or otherwise, labelling can only communicate so much. In the product safety business there is phrase we use:  The people with the greatest knowledge and resources of solving the problem in the product supply chain are the industry players and product safety authorities. 

In the European Union, Australia and New Zealand stricter guidelines, food safety laws and stronger powers of the food safety authority as compared to Malaysia provides higher degree of confidence among their consumers on safety of food. Consumer education and a strong food safety culture are among the important factors in ensuring only safe food is sold in the market place. 

However, it is difficult to ensure that food safety laws and guidelines are as strict in the country where food is imported from. Whilst industry can take the best precaution in complying with food safety laws and guidelines, mishaps do happen. This is why we need effective recall programmes and both food safety authorities and the industry play very crucial roles.

Traceability

One of the tools available for an effective recall programme is traceability standard. Being able to trace food back to its origin and tracking its movement along the supply chain are indispensable in the event of recalls. Food safety hazards can enter the food supply chain at any stage and adequate control and communication throughout the supply chain from farm to table is essential.

Food traceability systems track fresh produce or processed / packaged food at any time and place on its way from farm to table. A traceability system allows an organization to document and/or locate a product and facilitate the identification of the cause for hazards and the ability to recall if necessary. A good system also enables consumers to be provided with accurate information concerning unsafe products in the market in the event such concerns arise.

As for cultural concerns being able to track the food along its supply chain will help consumers, authorities and industry to ensure that a food is really ‘halal’, kosher or vegetarian. 

Food traceability standards and technology has evolved greatly to improve safety and minimise risk to consumers. Bar codes, electronic business standards, global data synchronization and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are all tools developed by international organisation and widely used in more than a hundred countries. Traceability can only be achieved successfully if it is built upon global standards which provide clear, understandable exchanges for everyone involved in the supply chain – including consumers.

Minimum and mandatory labelling requirements must include traceability codes or unique identification to facilitate communication and effective recalls from the market. 

Food safety from farm to fork in a global market is difficult without an effective traceability system built on globally accepted standards. 

Industry can communicate traceability codes or identification through labelling etc. Consumers depend on these identifications to respond correctly to recalls and choose products according to cultural beliefs confidently. Food safety authorities are also able to ensure that affected products are removed from the marketplace and minimise risks to consumers. Industries have the opportunity to minimise risk not only to their consumers but also their image.