Is Your Food Traceability Good Enough? The Answer May Surprise You
Published on 13 January 2019

Will your food traceability systems help your company avoid the many risks in the path of most food brands? You’ll sleep better if you know your company has thoroughly assessed your current capabilities and needs. The frequency of food recalls in the United States has been on a slight upward trend overall, though it declined somewhat since 2016.
Some credit the increase in recalls since 2013 to better inspections and testing.
Despite the recent decline in total U.S. food recalls, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) [pdf] notes that for meat and poultry, the most hazardous class of food recalls nearly doubled from 2013 to 2018.
These are Class 1 recalls, which involve foods for which "there is a reasonable probability that eating the food will cause health problems or death." That definition comes from the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a similar standard.
The brands behind many of the big food recalls in 2017 and 2018 sustained real damage, even if their products weren't at fault.
Good food traceability can’t guarantee your brand will never face a food recall. But it can help you reduce the risk of making things worse if one occurs.
Food brands with superior traceability systems are likely to fare better in recalls than brands without them.
Meeting regulatory requirements isn’t enough
You know the United States and Canada require a base level of food traceability. So does the European Union. But just meeting regulatory requirements doesn’t protect your brand from other risks related to food safety and product recalls.
What are the differences in food traceability systems that are just adequate and those that are superior?
Generix Group North America suggests 10 traits that distinguish one traceability system from another. The traits appear in the table that follows, along with a list of helpful questions about your current capabilities.
One of the more important traits of a good traceability system is its integration of your production-control and logistics systems.
10 Traits to Consider in Evaluating Food Traceability Capabilities & Needs
Does your company need all these capabilities?
You’ll have a much clearer idea of what you have and what you need after you answer the questions in each category.
1. Compliance
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2. Speed & timeliness
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3. Accuracy, granularity & completeness
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4. Efficiency
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5. Control
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6. Direction & range
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7. Reporting, analytics & alerts
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8. Flexibility
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9. Integration
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10. Technology
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How much worse might a food recall be if you don’t have many of the capabilities listed in the table?
Would you like help to evaluate your food traceability needs? Or ideas to help you meet your needs?
If so, start a conversation with a food safety logistics consultant at Generix Group North America through conversations@generixgroup.com.
Dig deeper
For more about food recalls and food safety, see these articles:
How to Plan for a Food Recall: Expect Surprises
Food Recalls: 8 Ways to Contain the Staggering Costs